Levanger vs Ranheim - NM Cupen

Few would have predicted the narrative arc that brings Levanger and Ranheim together at the home ground on September 16, 2026, and the underdog storyline only adds to the NM Cupen occasion. There are just three weeks to go in the transfer window and City face more transfer questions than answers ahead of the new campaign.

Both Levanger and Ranheim will be eager to build momentum when they meet in NM Cupen. Levanger 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. Dusan Vlahovic followed up his hat-trick on Monday by completing the comeback to leave Fenerbahce four points behind Galatasaray, who snatched a late winner at Basaksehir on Friday.

Wing play is likely to be central to the contest. Levanger will look to stretch the pitch and isolate their wide attackers, while Ranheim must find a way to compress the space and choke the supply lines. Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said: "If I’m Manchester United right now, I say press the green button and buy him, take him, right now.

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. The battle in midfield, where both sides look to control tempo, could prove the decisive arena. Tottenham signed the former Brighton star earlier this summer, and De Zerbi has now revealed how he messaged the defender to join the club after Brighton’s match against Everton.

Predicting an outright winner is no easy task given how little separates the two sides on paper. A share of the spoils looks the most probable outcome, with neither side holding a decisive edge — a 1-1 draw feels like a fitting result. Whatever the outcome, the NM Cupen 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.