Preview: Rosenborg vs. Tromso IL - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors, on the other hand, are flying high in the upper reaches of the Norwegian Eliteserien table after winning five of their last six games.

Match preview

Despite finishing outside of Norway's top five positions just once since 1986 - when finishing seventh in 2005 - record 26-time champions Rosenborg are looking nervously over their shoulders at the prospect of relegation at present.

Rosenborg have not competed in the second tier since 1978, when they bounced back at the first attempt, belatedly going on to win 13 successive titles between 1992 and 2004.

Their fans have not exactly been starved of success with seven further titles lifted across the ensuing couple of decades, but they have not tasted any triumphs since securing the domestic double in 2018.

Any such aspirations will have to wait at least another season having already been dumped out of the Norwegian Cup last month, meaning interim manager Svein Maalen is fully focused on moving his side away from the bottom three.

In contrast, Tromso are enjoying one of their strongest seasons in many years, with their 0-0 draw at home against Valerenga last weekend ending their winning streak of five games.

However, they remain in second place ahead of this weekend's action, although claiming their first ever top-flight title may prove to be difficult with Bodo/Glimt sitting eight points ahead of them having played one more match.

Indeed, Tromso's best ever finishes have been when finishing as runners-up in 1990 and 2011, demonstrating the excellent work that Gaute Helstrup has performed since guiding them to promotion in 2020.

With creating history for the club on offer, though, the 47-year-old will not be patting himself on the back just yet, with Sunday's trip to Trondheim representing a massive moment in both team's seasons.

Rosenborg Norwegian Eliteserien form:

L

W

D

L

L

L

Tromso IL Norwegian Eliteserien form:

W

W

W

W

W

D

Team News

Rosenborg will be without Edvard Tagseth due to suspension after the defender picked up another yellow card during his side's 2-1 defeat to Lillestrom, with Adrian Pereira potentially in line to drop deeper to left-back.

That could provide a place for veteran midfielder Per Ciljan Skjelbred to start for the hosts, who need every ounce of experience which they can call upon in their present situation.

Markus Henriksen, Isak Thorvaldsson and Jonathan Augustinsson are all expected to remain sidelined through injury.

Tromso, meanwhile, will travel without Runar Norheim (shoulder) and Hilmir Mikaelsson (thigh) due to their pre-existing issues.

Despite being held by Valerenga in their last match, Helstrup may see no reason to make any alterations to his starting XI, as he attempts to pile the misery on their forthcoming opponents while bolstering their own title aspirations.

Rosenborg possible starting lineup:

Hansen; Reitan, Rogers, Jenssen, Pereira; Skarsem, Vaananen, Skjelbred; Holse, Saeter, Nypan

Tromso IL possible starting lineup:

Haugaard; Oyvann, Psyche, Gundersen; Vesterlund, Opsahl, Jenssen, Paintsil; Erlien, Traore, Antonsen

We say: Rosenborg 0-1 Tromso IL

Rosenborg could be extremely flat after throwing away a one-goal lead to lose against Lillestrom in the dying stages last time out, whereas Tromso should be full of confidence given their excellent start to the season.

While we do not foresee the visitors running away with things, we do envisage them returning to winning ways, which could place Rosenborg in danger of falling into the bottom three.

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