As the crisp autumn air descends upon Haugesund Stadion, a clash fraught with desperation and the pursuit of crucial points looms. On September 29, 2025, Haugesund, anchored at the foot of the Eliteserien table, will host Sandefjord in a fixture that carries immense weight for both sides. For the home team, the narrative is grim: a season defined by struggle, with relegation seemingly an unavoidable fate. Can the Haugesund faithful inspire a miraculous turnaround, or will Sandefjord capitalize on their opponent’s woes to bolster their own standing in Norway’s top flight? This encounter promises to be more than just 90 minutes of football; it’s a battle for pride, points, and perhaps, a flicker of hope.
Head-to-Head: A History of Goals
The rivalry between Haugesund and Sandefjord has often delivered entertaining, high-scoring affairs. Across 19 historical meetings, Haugesund holds the superior record with 11 victories, compared to Sandefjord’s 5 wins, and 3 matches ending in a draw. Other sources indicate as many as 23 or 29 total matches, with similar patterns of Haugesund having more wins overall. Interestingly, 53% of their clashes have seen over 2.5 goals, with 5 of the last 7 encounters producing four or more goals, suggesting an open and attacking style when these teams meet.
Recent Meetings (Last 5):
- June 22, 2025: Sandefjord 4 – 0 Haugesund
- July 28, 2024: Sandefjord 4 – 3 Haugesund
- May 26, 2024: Haugesund 2 – 1 Sandefjord
- August 27, 2023: Sandefjord 0 – 0 Haugesund
- June 11, 2023: Haugesund 3 – 2 Sandefjord
The most recent fixture in June 2025 saw Sandefjord dominate Haugesund with a convincing 4-0 victory, a result that will undoubtedly be on the minds of both sets of players.
Current Form & Team News
Haugesund: A Season of Struggles
Haugesund’s 2025 Eliteserien campaign has been nothing short of disastrous. Occupying the 16th and last position in the league, their form is classified as “Very Poor” with a dismal record of just 1 win, 3 draws, and 18 losses from 22 matches. The team has managed to score only 12 goals while conceding a league-high 56 this season, highlighting significant defensive frailties.
Their last five league outings reflect this struggle, with a form of 1 win, 1 draw, and 3 losses (1W-1D-3L). Recent results include a 3-2 home win against Sarpsborg 08 (August 10, 2025), a 2-3 home loss to Valerenga (August 24, 2025), a 2-2 draw away at Fredrikstad (August 31, 2025), and consecutive away defeats to Rosenborg (0-3 on September 14, 2025) and Kristiansund (2-0 on September 21, 2025).
Team news for Haugesund suggests several key absences. A. Bondhus (broken collarbone), V. Solheim, M. Samuelsen, Runar Espejord, and Parfait Bizoza are all expected to be out until early October due to injuries. Troy Nyhammer is also slated to return in late September. Forward players like Sory Ibrahim Diarra, Runar Espejord, and Sander Håvik Innvær have each netted once this season, while Pyry Hannola has contributed with 2 assists.
Sandefjord: Seeking Consistency
Sandefjord’s season has been slightly better than their opponents, placing them 11th in the Eliteserien table. Their overall form is rated as “Average,” with 9 wins, 1 draw, and 11 losses from 21 games. However, their recent performances paint a concerning picture, with a form of 0 wins, 1 draw, and 4 losses in their last five competitive matches (0W-1D-4L). These results include a 2-2 draw against Kristiansund (August 17, 2025), followed by losses to Bodø/Glimt (1-2 on August 31, 2025), Sarpsborg 08 (2-1 on September 14, 2025), Tromsdalen (6-1 in the NM Cup on September 17, 2025), and Brann (0-3 on September 20, 2025).
On the injury front, Sandefjord will be without S.R. Mørk due to a knock injury, with an expected return in early October. Goalkeeper Elias Hadaya, who had a ligament tear, was expected back by September 13, 2025, and may be available. Stian Kristiansen is also facing a suspension due to disciplinary points.
Stefan Ingi Sigurdarson is Sandefjord’s top scorer with 6 league goals, and an impressive 17 goals across all competitions. Robin Dzabic, Loris Mettler, and Evangelos Patoulidis have also contributed with 3 goals each in the league.
Tactical Preview
Haugesund typically employs a flexible 4-3-3 formation, though they have experimented with various setups including 4-1-4-1, 5-4-1, and 4-2-3-1. Their tactical approach emphasizes high pressing to regain possession, quick transitions to exploit disorganization, and wing play with overlapping runs to create crossing opportunities. They also aim to maintain a compact midfield. However, their defensive record suggests significant difficulties in executing these principles effectively. Conceding an average of 2.5 goals per match in their last 10 league games underscores their defensive vulnerabilities.
Sandefjord is also predicted to line up in a 4-3-3 formation. Their attacking prowess, particularly through players like Stefan Ingi Sigurdarson, will be key. Given Haugesund’s struggles at the back, Sandefjord will likely look to exploit the wide areas and create chances through their primary goalscorers. Sandefjord’s away form has been notably poor this season, with only 1 win, 1 draw, and 8 losses. This could temper their attacking ambition to some extent.
The match will be played on a natural grass pitch at Haugesund Stadion, which has undergone renovations to become a modern facility. With the match taking place in late September in Norway, autumn conditions could bring cooler temperatures and potentially rain, which might influence ball control and pitch speed, though the stadium is generally considered top-class.
