- Sarpsborg 08 have taken just five points from their opening six Eliteserien 2026 fixtures, leaving them languishing in 12th place.
- Lillestrom SK have won three, drawn one and lost one of their last five Eliteserien 2026 matches, putting them third in the table with 13 points.
Sarpsborg 08 still seeking the right formula
Sarpsborg 08 have struggled from the start of the season, taking just five points from their first six Eliteserien 2026 assignments to leave them languishing in 12th. Even Sel’s high-intensity pressing game has failed to deliver results for the club since he took charge in January 2026. This Lillestrom SK vs Sarpsborg 08 preview highlights the difficulties Sarpsborg 08 are having in finding a working system.
Sarpsborg 08 have won one and lost two of their three away Eliteserien 2026 fixtures, conceding three times in the process. The visitors are in no form ahead of this Sunday’s trip to Lillestrom SK, on a run of five without a win (D2, L3) that has seen them lose two on the spin to Tromsoe and KFUM. For our Lillestrom SK vs Sarpsborg 08 prediction, this run of poor away results is a significant factor to consider.
Sarpsborg 08’s approach during Sel’s time in charge has been built on players working hard collectively to stop opponents having a comfortable time on the ball. The team has been set up to press the ball high up the field and get players forward in numbers on the counter-attack. It’s a formula that has yet to find the right balance in Sarpsborg.
Lillestrom’s organised style should see off Sarpsborg 08
Lillestrom’s style is more in keeping with the possession-based philosophy that Hans Erik Oedegaard has deployed, and his team are much more organised and less prone to errors in their build-up play. Lillestrom have midfield orchestrators who control the tempo and pace of their matches while overloading in the centre of the field.
In attack, Markus Seehusen Karlsbakk is Lillestrom’s focal point, having netted three times in his last five appearances. His teammates have provided the service in their last few games, making them a much tougher nut to crack than Sarpsborg 08, who have netted once in their last three.
We like Lillestrom’s chances of winning this match-up and the odds of 1.7 about a home victory look good enough to take here, especially given the extra spice of their recent cup final meeting and the contrasting form of the two sides. These factors contribute significantly to this Lillestrom SK vs Sarpsborg 08 prediction.
Expect a cagey affair on Sunday
A 2-2 draw was the result when these two teams last met in Lillestrom for an Eliteserien clash back in 2024. Sarpsborg 08 are unbeaten in their last two visits, but Lillestrom are much improved now and should control the game on Sunday with Sarpsborg looking to nick a goal.
Both teams to score does not appeal at all at 2.47, but over 2.5 goals looks good at 1.43. However, Lillestrom should dominate the match-up and Sarpsborg’s lack of fluency in the final third should result in a home clean sheet, which is reflected in our Lillestrom SK vs Sarpsborg 08 betting tips.
