Molde vs Sarpsborg prediction 02.08.2026 | Eliteserien

After a disappointing 2025, Molde returned among the best teams in Eliteserien. Sindre Tjelmeland's team is not good enough to compete for the championship trophy, but they should be in contention for at least a place in the Conference League. However, Molde haven't played well since the World Cup break, with only one victory in three matches. Especially worrying was their defense, as Tjelmeland's team conceded eight goals in the span. In the most recent outing, Molde won 4-2 on the road against KFUM. The guests' victory was well-deserved, as they ended with an xG of 4.43, while the hosts had only 0.42.

Molde's recent form wasn't the best, but head coach Sindre Tjelmenland was still very satisfied after the game against KFUM. He commented, "We delivered a strong performance, earned all three points, and fully deserved the victory. We see these players together every single day, and we genuinely see a united dressing room. We see groups that work incredibly well together and believe both in the direction the club is heading and in each other's development."

Molde have some problems with missing players. They will be without Fredrik Dahl, Mats Daehli, Vebjorn Hoff, and Mads Kikkenborg on Sunday afternoon. Also, Halldor Stenevik is questionable, and his status will be clearer closer to the kickoff.

The 2026 season could be the best for Sarpsborg in almost a decade. It is probably unlikely, but they are not without chances to secure a place in the Conference League, especially given their excellent form in recent weeks. Since the World Cup, Sarpsborg have collected an outstanding seven points in three matches. In the previous game, they won 1-0 at home against HamKam. The teams were pretty close that time, but eventually, the hosts did just enough to secure another victory.

Sarpsborg's head coach, Even Sel, was very satisfied with the victory, but also with the defense in the game's final moments. He said, "I'm very pleased with the winning mentality and the character we showed. Even when we came under pressure, we stayed composed. Naturally, when you're leading, the opposition pushes more players forward, sends more crosses into the box, and creates more situations around your penalty area. But we've built confidence from successfully dealing with those situations in several matches now. It's almost like saying, 'Go ahead, throw everything at us — we'll deal with it."

Frederik Carstensen, Peter Reinhardsen, and Sigurd Rosted are injured, while Bjorn Utvik is suspended for the trip to Molde.