Arendal vs Sandnes ULF - NM Cupen

Arendal prepare to host Sandnes ULF at the home ground on September 16, 2026, with both sides eager to assert their credentials and claim a result that could define their NM Cupen season. It has not been a daunting fixture list but there are signs that Mourinho has found a way to get the best from an increasingly stacked Madrid squad.

Both camps will view the NM Cupen meeting at the home ground as an opportunity to put a marker down, regardless of where they currently stand. Arendal will be keen to seize the initiative and build some momentum on home soil. The visitors will travel in the hope that a change of scene can spark a turnaround, whatever the form book says. The fact that Oxford ultimately fell five points short of the total needed to stay in the Championship shows that it would have required top-half - almost play-off - form during the second half of the season.

Set-piece efficiency could prove the difference on the night. Both Arendal and Sandnes ULF have invested time in dead-ball situations this season, and a single corner or free-kick may settle it. His passing display at the World Cup was yet more evidence of his suitability for City and the possession-heavy style Maresca favours.

Individual moments of quality could tip the balance. Both sides possess players capable of producing something out of nothing, and a single flash of brilliance may be all that separates them. How each side deals with the other's danger men — and who takes their chances when they come — will be central to the outcome. The midfielder looked good at the World Cup for France but it has been claimed that Jason Wilcox is yet to be sold while Michael Carrick may prefer a more proven option.

Predictions are tricky when the sides are this evenly matched, and small margins — a moment of quality, a slice of luck — could decide it either way. Neither side holds a clear edge, and a 1-1 draw would be a fitting reflection of the balance between them. With the standings tight and form on the line, this is a fixture neither side will want to lose. Joe Gomez is expected to miss the start of Liverpool's Premier League campaign through injury - but it is not likely to impact the Reds' transfer plans.