Rosenborg return to Eliteserien action on Sunday determined to put an uncomfortable evening behind them when they welcome Fredrikstad to Lerkendal Stadion.

The Trondheim club were heavily beaten by Manchester United in a friendly on Friday, but their recent league form paints a far more encouraging picture. Consecutive victories before that exhibition match have lifted Rosenborg towards the middle of the table, while Fredrikstad arrive under increasing pressure after slipping back towards the relegation battle.

With only two places separating the teams, three points could provide a significant boost as the second half of the season begins to take shape.

Rosenborg building momentum despite Friday setback

Freyr Alexandersson will have been disappointed by the manner of Friday’s defeat to Manchester United, but there is little reason for Rosenborg to dwell on the result.

The friendly offered valuable preparation rather than league points, and it came after consecutive 3-0 Eliteserien victories over Kristiansund and Start had restored confidence following an inconsistent opening to the campaign.

Those wins highlighted the improvements beginning to emerge under Alexandersson. Rosenborg have looked far more organised defensively while rediscovering the attacking efficiency that has often been missing earlier in the season.

Home form has also started to improve. Eleven of the club’s 15 league points have been collected at Lerkendal, where the atmosphere has once again become a factor in recent weeks. Back-to-back home league victories would further strengthen belief that Rosenborg are beginning to move in the right direction.

Amin Chiakha has become increasingly influential in attack, scoring in each of his last two league appearances to take his tally to five for the season. With Dino Islamović still sidelined, the young striker will once again carry much of the goalscoring responsibility.

Fredrikstad need away improvement to halt slide

Fredrikstad made an encouraging start to the campaign after returning to the Eliteserien, but recent weeks have exposed the challenges facing Casper Rojkaer’s side.

Defeats to Lillestrøm and Bodø/Glimt immediately after the mid-season break have stalled the momentum they built before the pause, leaving the visitors looking nervously over their shoulders rather than towards the top half of the table.

Their biggest weakness has undoubtedly been performances away from home. Just four points have been collected on their travels this season, while one point from their last five away league matches underlines how difficult they have found life outside Fredrikstad Stadion.

Goals have also been difficult to come by. Daniel Eid, Rocco Robert Shein and Oskar Ohlenschlaeger share the lead as the club’s top scorers, but none has managed more than two league goals, illustrating the absence of a consistent focal point in attack.

Injuries further complicate matters. Sondre Sørløkk and Sigurd Kvile are expected to miss out, while the fitness of Samuel Leach, Ohlenschlaeger and Leonard Owusu will be assessed before kick-off.

Perhaps most significantly, Fredrikstad have not beaten Rosenborg in the league since 2012, with recent meetings generally favouring the home side.

Verdict: Rosenborg can extend visitors’ miserable record

Friday’s friendly defeat is unlikely to have any lasting impact on Rosenborg’s confidence.

Their recent league performances have been convincing, particularly at Lerkendal, where they have rediscovered both defensive solidity and attacking fluency. Fredrikstad, by contrast, continue to struggle away from home and have lacked the cutting edge required to turn competitive performances into points.

The visitors are organised enough to remain in the contest for long periods, but Rosenborg’s superior quality and growing confidence should ultimately prove decisive.

Tip

Rosenborg to win.