Molde welcome local rivals Aalesund to Aker Stadium on Saturday after building their best run of form this season. The hosts have won six consecutive matches in all competitions, while Aalesund remain involved in the relegation battle despite showing that they can score goals.

The first league meeting between the teams ended 2–2 in July, but Molde enter the return fixture in a much stronger position.

Molde arrive with six straight victories

Molde have moved up to third place in the Eliteserien after winning their previous four league matches.

Their run includes a 3–2 victory over Tromsø, a 4–3 win away to Vålerenga and a controlled 2–0 performance against KFUM. They followed that with an impressive 5–1 victory away to HamKam, with Trent Kone-Doherty scoring a hat-trick.

Molde also beat Trygg/Lade 5–0 in the Norwegian Cup during the week. Across their last six matches in all competitions, they have scored 30 goals. Two of those victories came against lower-ranked cup opposition, but the numbers still underline the confidence within the team.

At home in the league, Molde have collected seven victories from ten matches and scored 23 goals. Their attacking form makes them difficult to oppose at Aker Stadium.

Aalesund continue to concede goals

Aalesund narrowly avoided a cup upset on Wednesday, beating Førde 4–3. That result once again demonstrated both their attacking threat and their defensive problems.

Their last three league matches produced a 2–1 defeat against Viking, a 2–0 victory over Start and another 2–1 loss against KFUM. Aalesund have now won only one of their previous eleven Eliteserien matches and begin the weekend in 15th place.

They have scored in 13 consecutive league games, so Molde should not expect an easy clean sheet. However, Aalesund have also conceded in each of their previous nine league matches away from home.

The visitors have taken only one victory from nine away matches this season, conceding 19 goals in the process.

Previous meetings favour Molde

Aalesund held Molde to a 2–2 draw at Color Line Stadion in July, but their recent record at Aker Stadium is poor.

Molde have won the last three league meetings between the teams at home. They also beat Aalesund 4–1 in a pre-season match at the same venue in February.

Verdict

Aalesund have scored regularly and could contribute to an open match, but their defensive record makes this a difficult assignment.

Molde are producing goals from several areas of the team and should have too much quality at home. With the hosts in excellent form and Aalesund continuing to concede, a Molde victory in a match containing at least three goals is the strongest selection.

Tip

Molde to win and over 2.5 goals