Fredrikstad vs Start - Eliteserien

The Eliteserien returns to the home ground on May 29, 2026, where Fredrikstad and Start will lock horns in a contest that could shape their respective campaigns. Enzo Maresca verdict on Michael Carrick and Manchester United fixture issue - 'you need to adapt'.

The standings paint a clear picture: Fredrikstad in 7th, Start in 16th, and both keen to climb. Fredrikstad have been picking up results at a respectable clip, DLWWW over their last five with a season win rate of 40%. The visitors arrive short of confidence, WLWLL in their last five and a season win rate of just 20%. Goals could be in short supply or plentiful — Fredrikstad average 1.2 per game to Start's 1.1, and that gap may dictate the rhythm of the contest. That result ended the European giants' 14-game unbeaten run in the competition, as Fede Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Jude Bellingham were contained by an "incredible" performance from a player barely anyone outside of France had heard of.

Tactically, the contest promises a fascinating contrast. Fredrikstad will look to impose their style on home soil, while Start are likely to have ideas of their own about how to gain the upper hand. Schalke had only 17 per cent of the possession but, having visited the club to interview their charismatic coach Miron Muslic, that is hardly a surprise.

The fixture features no shortage of talent, and the league's top marksman Amin Chiakha — 12 goals this term — will be one to watch. The battle in midfield, where both sides look to control tempo, could prove the decisive arena. They plan to open talks with PSG forward Bradley Barcola, but it will be a difficult deal to do with the French and European champions valuing him at around £145m.

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. The weight of evidence points to Fredrikstad, and a 2-1 win for the hosts feels like the most probable outcome. Whatever the outcome, the Eliteserien fixture promises a meaningful contest with real implications for both clubs. 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.