Valencia - Rosenborg

[2mas]

V

Maybe Mourinho is back on the bench against us? Funny if Rosenborg get him sacked in Chelsea, then give him a new job by beating Valencia.

This will anyway be a very hard away match for us. Our record in Spain is not that impressive:

1994 UEFA Cup: Deportivo La Coruña 1-4 aet
1997 UCL: Real Madrid 1-4
1998 UCL: Athletic Bilbao 1-1
1999 UCL: Real Madrid 1-3
2000 UEFA Cup: Alavés 1-1
2003 UCL qual: Deportivo La Coruña 0-1
2005 UCL: Real Madrid 1-4

[Troilonge]

In such a match like this, I would actually like to see Espen Johnsen play. Who can forget his match at Mestalla in 2003

Iversen and Strand might be our key players this round. Them both have good matches in the earlier Spain-Norway derbys.

[Skotten]

Anything would be a bonus here, if we could get a draw it put us in a good position going into the final two games.

We know we're going to have to get something against Chelsea to have any chance of prolonging European football for the meantime.

[Kjello]

Realy dreaming here, Rosenborg can advance to the 1/8 finals with only two more points. Need alot of help from Chelsea tough...
positions atm.
Chelsea 7
Rosenborg 4
Valencia 3
Schalke 04 3

Valencia - Rosenborg 1-1
Schalke 04 - Chelsea 0-2

Chelsea 10
Rosenborg 5
Valencia 4
Schalke 04 3

Rosenborg - Chelsea 0-2
Valencia - Schalke 04 0-0

Chelsea 13
Rosenborg 5
Valencia 5
Schalke 04 4

Chelsea - Valencia 2-0
Schalke 04 - Rosenborg 1-1

Chelsea 16
Rosenborg 6
Valencia 5
Schalke 5

[2mas]

I do have a good feeling that Schalke will lose both home to Chelsea and away at Valencia. So it's up to us making the 3rd spot and UEFA Cup after Christmas.

(By the way is my "feeling" often bad, but I predicted 1-1 at the pub in London and "two Rosenborg goals in the second half" during the break on Wednesday. )

[Gerrit]

If Chelsea beats Schalke then they are almost qualified and may not fly to Norway with their best team. Which increases our chances.

Then a draw vs Schalke away should be enough for at least third spot, because I cannot see Schalke beat Valencia.



Am I right in saying we are the team with the least pressure? I mean, the other three probably thought we would finish bottom without any points... The pressure is on the shoulder of the big teams and maybe that is something we can take advantage of? With 4 points we already did better than most people expected us to do, so we can look at the other games with a relaxed attitude while the pressure on Valencia and Chelsea must be huge, with their budgets they cannot afford to not qualify...
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Rosenborg, forever pride of the North!

[Yigit]

I think qualifying by 6 points is not very possible:) But still, where the name of Rosenborg exists, there's still hope... At least we can go for third place!!
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Since 1917...

[2mas]

Even though our new 4-4-2 formation works well at home, I feel pretty sure we will go back to 4-3-3/4-5-1 in the match and focus on "safey first".

I do not have any good feeling on this one, but maybe we should get Espen Johnsen back from his loan to Strømsgodset? As mentioned, the goalkeeper's last match at Mestalla was excellent: Spain - Norway 2-1 (Euro 2004 play offs)

[Kjello]

Why is that? We actually outplayed them. Why should we change so much becouse it's away this time?

[Troilonge]

Because Valencia will be better. They have a new manager and they know how good RBK actually are.

However, if we keep this level of pressure like we did last time, we should be able to draw them or even win at Mestalla.

[Skotten]

Maybe because Flores is out, usually teams respond pretty well after a coach has left.

I think maybe we could go conservative from the start and grow into the game. I think we'll need to score however to have any hope of at least a point.

[2mas]

Both Iversen and Kone will be playing, so 4-4-2/4-3-3 are just numbers. I however think the tactics will be more defensively. As at Stamford Bridge we should focus on making the most of the counter attacks, which can be quite a few if Valencia are struggling for scoring.

[Torbjørn]

[2mas]

Away wins both for Valencia (2-0 at Mallorca) and Rosenborg (2-1 at Aalesund) yesterday. For Valencia it was as usual, for us it was unusual. Our last away win the league was at Odd in June. Only 11 of 39 points at away illustrates our problem this season; winning away matches.

The Norwegian league is now over. We ended 5th and should hope Lillestrøm win the cup next Sunday, so we get a place in the Intertoto Cup.

Now the players can fully concentrate on the Champions League. The whole back four was rested against Aalesund because of light injuries and sickness, but Strand, Kvarme, Riseth and Dorsin are all expected to be back on Tuesday. Our line-up will then most likely be the same as home against Valencia and Lyn:

Lars Hirschfeld

Roar Strand - Bjørn Tore Kvarme - Vidar Riseth - Mikael Dorsin

Per Ciljan Skjelbred - Alexander Tettey - Abdou Razack Traore
Marek Sapara

Yssouf Kone - Steffen Iversen

The big question is how Rosenborg will take on this match. Personally I expect more defensively tactics (e.g. placing Iversen on the flank in a 4-5-1 formation), but I hear some of the players (e.g. Skjelbred) wanting to surprise Valencia once more by attacking them heavily.

The main objective for Rosenborg is nevertheless snatching the 3rd place from Schalke. A point or three in Valencia is of course appreciated, but maybe not necessary for achieving that. I expect Chelsea to win in Gelsenkirchen, qualifying for the 1/8 finals (in all practial matters). Hopefully this will mean Chelsea taking the match in Trondheim a bit more easy, maybe confining themselves to a new draw. At the same time Schalke will lose in Valencia. Then the final match day in Gelsenkirchen will be a duel for the 3rd place between Schalke and Rosenborg.

[2mas]

Roar Strand could not take part in the training session Monday, and is presumable left out of the match against Valencia.

This means Fredrik Stoor gets a new chance after a good match on Saturday.

Probable line-up:

Lars Hirschfeld

Roar Strand - Bjørn Tore Kvarme - Vidar Riseth - Mikael Dorsin

Steffen Iversen - Per Skjelbred - Alexander Tettey - Abdou Traore
Marek Sapara

Yssouf Kone
Read more: Strand misses Valencia match

[Yigit]

wow!!
great!!
i wish i could watch this game!!
wow!!
proud to be a supporter again!!
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Since 1917...

[Czech rbk fan]

What to say... Unbelieveable!!! Great match!
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http://www.fb.com/norskyfotbal

[Jon Irenicus]

I'm so excited that I won't be able to sleep before translating the match report. Yeah!

[Skotten]

Where to start?

Haven't seen the game but this result is almost as unbelievable as the Chelsea game. Koeman is obviously new in the job and their confidence is low after RBK's previous win but this is wonderful.

Coupled with Schalke failing to win can we dream of qualifying to the next stages now?

I'm definetly getting to Trondheim for Chelsea, definetly.

[Kjello]

If you don't get a hotelroom I'll give you my bed and I'll sleep in a sleepingbag on the floor.

[Skotten]

[Jon Irenicus]

I can also offer a couch to sleep on for regular, foreign posters. I'll only be watching the game with a couple of friends at home though. And then cramming for my exam afterwards.

[Lloyd]

You bloody bastards.......

Have nooooo idea how you manage to pull results like these off, but congratulations guys. You make us proud

[Skotten]

[Jon Irenicus]

The main reason that I won't go to the game is that I haven't been able to attend any regular games this year.

I don't want to be the kind of supporter who can only find exuses for going to the CL games. Next semester I'll be taking less demanding classes and get my fat ass to Lerkendal more often.