Eliteserien Advance Matches: Has Bodø/Glimt Dozed Off? Tromsø Constructs a New Defensive Blockade

The Eliteserien scheduled three matches from Round 18 and 19 in the early hours of May 30th Beijing time due to August's European qualifying matches. Defending champions Bodø/Glimt failed to secure all three points last round due to two basic defensive errors, marking their first back-to-back winless streak this season. After the painful lesson of dropping points, can they bounce back?

Tromsø currently sits at the bottom of the table, a stark contrast to their surprising European qualification last season. However, their defensive strength has significantly improved recently, with minor deviations from the norm. Bodø/Glimt faces Sandefjord in their upcoming match. The champions and league leaders have slowed down in the last two rounds, offering other teams a chance to catch up. They failed to score against HamKam in the previous round, their first goalless match of the season, making their attack a focal point.

In their last home game against Oslo, Bodø/Glimt's players demonstrated that their attack's inefficiency was just an anomaly. Former AC Milan player Hauge played exceptionally well as a left-winger, intercepting the ball in the opponent's penalty area in the 17th minute and passing to a teammate who scored an open goal. Unfortunately, his teammates failed to capitalize on other chances. Towards the end of the first half, he again intercepted the ball at the edge of the opponent's penalty area, setting up another goal to take the lead. However, Bodø/Glimt's defense was disappointing. In the first minute of stoppage time in the first half, confusion between the goalkeeper and defender allowed the opponent to equalize. In the second half, a defensive lapse on their left side allowed Oslo an easy chance to score and take the lead. Hauge later equalized for Bodø/Glimt after a teammate's breakthrough and cross.

Sandefjord, promoted back to Eliteserien after just one season in the second tier, continues to battle for survival this season. After three consecutive losses, they are now tied with Tromsø in points, only temporarily avoiding last place due to goal difference. In nine Eliteserien matches so far, Sandefjord has had fewer shooting opportunities than their opponents, highlighting their need to improve their conversion rate to secure a foothold in safety soon.

After two lackluster rounds, champions like Bodø/Glimt are expected to have regained their momentum. They are likely to perform at 30% of their potential at home, while Sandefjord has a chance to convert one successful attempt into a game. Tromsø faces Fredrikstad in another fixture. Defensive discipline matters more than numbers. Tromsø finished third in the league last season, making it necessary for them to play summer games early. But their form has dropped sharply this season, with no team behind them and the fewest goals in Eliteserien. Perhaps they are too busy with European qualifying matches in the summer.

Starting in mid-May, their performance has improved, with two wins in the last four rounds, and the last two games have ended in a draw. The Iron Blood Defense seems to have been rebuilt last season. Tromsø's new season is refreshing, and 10 games after the start of the game, and the goals scored in Eliteserien have more than 11, has game may have. p