Kongsvinger – Rosenborg 20-05-2025

Kongsvinger hosts Rosenborg in what was once a classic match in Norwegian football. Gjemselund was once a difficult ground for Rosenborg to get to, and especially in the 90s there were many matches that went in the home team's favor. One well remembers a match in the cup in the 91 season, which ended 4-4 in a match that changed back and forth.

A match that is perhaps best remembered for Bent Skammelsrud's hat trick. The midfield strategist was not known as a great goal scorer. But in this match, that was exactly what he was. Perhaps it was the excitement of the match that did its job. He came to this match straight from his hospital bed. When he had to be admitted with chlorine poisoning. But the then Nils Arne Eggen of course got in touch with the doctor at the hospital, who gave the go-ahead for the match, as long as they had their own doctor. These were the times in Norwegian football!

Since then, these teams have probably had different stories. While Rosenborg won league gold after league gold, Kongsvinger gradually declined and was forgotten by many. But in recent years they have now acquired a stable sponsor in Mapei, and it seems as if they are committed to building a good foundation for the future.

They have established themselves as a good team in the OBOS league, and certainly have ambitions to move up to the top level. Whether they will manage it is another matter. It is a narrow needle's eye. But let's see where the teams stand today.

Kongsvinger – The top teams are better.

Kongsvinger had opened this year's OBOS season in a brilliant way. But teams like Åsane (draw), Hødd (win), Skeid (win) and Moss (win, red card early) were also teams they should beat.

The next 3 games would prove much more difficult. They first lost an away game against Ranheim, who had started weakly. Then they lost to two of the big favorites before this year's season. Both Odd and Lillestrøm were too strong. We think this also shows a little bit where Kongsvinger is this season.

Good team in the OBOS league, but as soon as they meet teams that smell of Eliteserien standard, the team is just not good enough. At home, the team is 1-1-1 after 3 home games. Not very scary. The team plays on artificial turf, and you don't have the advantage you had in the past, where they could adjust the pitch a little according to the opposition they faced. Preferably a little long grass and a little water against an opponent of RBK's caliber.

The team also scored many goals until the last 3 games when they have faced better opposition, then they have only scored 2 goals in 3 games. Considering the tight defense today's opponent has had this year. The efficiency should go up many notches if they dream of victory here. In the cup, however, they have progressed well. First by 12-0 away against the 4th division team Ridabu, before they beat Elverum away by a full 2-7. In the third cup round they met a club from the same level, and you had to have penalties to get past Sogndal on the away field.

Now it will be the first home game in the cup of the year, and many supporters are expected considering the opponent they will face. There will probably be a good atmosphere here. But will it be enough to take the team further in the cup? We doubt it.

Rosenborg – Solid team with potential.

Rosenborg has, as expected, established itself at the top of this year's Elite Series. With the exception of a somewhat accidental point loss against Kristiansund at home, most things have gone their way.

There is no doubt that Alfred Johanson has introduced something to this team. One thing is the playing style, but we also see a completely different professionalism this year. There are no shortcuts on the team here. He has created a competitive situation that this team has not had in several seasons. Actually with a lot of the player material that was available from before. It is well done.

Many of the players have improved under this coach, and it has also been a shortage of players in the team from Trondheim in recent seasons. Of course, this also creates some challenges. If you look at the striker position for example. RBK still lacks the striker who plays consistently and scores goals. Maybe it is the stress factor behind the fact that more players are waiting in line if they do not succeed, which characterizes the players?

Because where Rosenborg has lacked goalscorers in the series, the strikers have scored goals in the cup. 19 goals in 3 games, says it all. With 1 goal conceded, it seems as if the team is taking the cup seriously. Because there is no doubt that Kongsvinger will face a tougher Rosenborg in this game. The players are measured in everything they do in the club now. There are also players who want more playing time, who will get to try themselves here. Those players undoubtedly have a hunger in them, which drives this team forward.

We believe that regardless of whether Rosenborg chooses to make a few changes, the team is in a strong position here. The club has been starved of titles in recent years, and the road here is open after clubs like Bodø Glimt and Brann are already out. It makes you think that this could be a good path to a title for Alfred's team already this year.

Conclusion – Quality and form.

The quality of these two teams will be different. We believe that the team Rosenborg fields will be good enough to advance.

Kongsvinger are not in great form at the moment, and the team is looking for the good feeling they had early in the season. Should they fall behind here, Rosenborg is an incredibly difficult team to score against at the moment. So there are small margins for Kongsvinger to lose this one. We get what we call surprisingly good odds on Rosenborg winning, and feel we have to try the following bet.

Norway at 20:00: Kongsvinger – Rosenborg: Rosenborg wins (1.72)