Preview: Lillestrom vs. HamKam - prediction, team news, lineups

Meanwhile, the visitors make the trip to the Arasen Stadion keen to secure the win that will take them further clear of the relegation zone.

Match preview

Having finished in fourth spot in 2022, Lillestrom had hopes of building on that achievement and mounting a charge for European qualification this time around.

While they are in the race for continental football, the Canaries currently sit four points adrift of the top three, albeit with a game in hand on fourth and fifth place.

Manager Geir Bakke has now left for Valerenga with Simon Mesfin being placed in interim charge, and Lillestrom are in a position where they need to bounce back from a disappointing 1-0 reverse at Haugesund last time out.

Nevertheless, before that defeat, three successive wins had been recorded for the second time this season, 11 goals being netted albeit against teams in the bottom half of the table.

In the long run, though, just four victories have come from nine games, with there being no doubt that Lillestorm need to take advantage of fixtures such as this one and add a sixth home triumph to their record this campaign.

Up until recently, HamKam were enduring a disastrous season, losing nine of their opening 12 games and at risk of being cut adrift in the relegation zone.

However, three successive victories - against Aalesund, Sarpsborg and Stabaek respectively - have moved Kamma five points clear of the bottom three.

Jakob Michelsen can only be delighted with a nine-game winless streak being ended in such fashion, the target now to move closer to the mid-table positions given their current momentum.

HamKam have only kept one clean sheet in their most recent 12 outings, that shutout coming in the reverse fixture versus Lillestrom as the teams played out a goalless draw at the end of May.

Lillestrom Norwegian Eliteserien form:

D

L

W

W

W

L

HamKam Norwegian Eliteserien form:

L

L

L

W

W

W

Team News

Lillestrom will have to make do without Akor Adams after the forward collected two yellow cards during the closing minutes versus Haugesund.

Henrik Skogvold, who has recently returned from a productive loan stint with Start, could be handed an opportunity to impress in his place.

The rest of the team may remain the same, Lillestrom only going down to a goal that was scored in the final quarter-of-an-hour.

Meanwhile, HamKam midfielder Tore Andre Saras was forced off injured in the win over Stabaek, and that could result in a start for Benjamin Thoresen Faraas.

Barring any further fitness issues, Michelsen may be content to stick with the side that started the 3-2 victory.

Lillestrom possible starting lineup:

Hedenstad; Dragsnes, Garnas, Skjaervik; Ranger, Asen, Hoff, Ibrahimaj, Edh; Adams, Olsen

HamKam possible starting lineup:

Jendal; Sjolstad, Norheim, Opsahl; Gammelby, Onsrud, Farass, Kurtovic, Kongsro; Kirkevold, Udahl

We say: Lillestrom 2-1 HamKam

Both teams have shown varying levels of inconsistency throughout this season, throwing up the possibility of a close game despite the difference in league positions. Nevertheless, we still feel that the home side will edge this contest, boosting their European hopes in the process.

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