Melhus vs Stjørdals-Blink - NM Cupen

There is a notable edge to this NM Cupen fixture. When Melhus meet Stjørdals-Blink at the home ground on August 22, 2026, both will sense an opportunity to land a telling blow. Just as was the case in the previous meeting between the teams in April of last year, when Emery's side gave them such a scare in the Champions League tie at Villa Park, PSG were hanging on at the end.

Both Melhus and Stjørdals-Blink will be eager to build momentum when they meet in NM Cupen. Melhus will be keen to seize the initiative and build some momentum on home soil. Stjørdals-Blink's away form is hard to read, but they will arrive with the belief that they can trouble their hosts. Despite his age, and recent injury record, Rodri remains the most complete central midfielder to have operated in the Premier League over the past five years.

Wing play is likely to be central to the contest. Melhus will look to stretch the pitch and isolate their wide attackers, while Stjørdals-Blink must find a way to compress the space and choke the supply lines. They were slightly found out against Amorim's Milan in pre-season, with the press not quite sharp enough - the fourth goal, in particular, came from just one ball over a high-lined defence.

In fixtures as finely poised as this one, it often comes down to who holds their nerve in the big moments — and both camps have players who relish that responsibility. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. He was the striker who arrived just when Wolves were rediscovering themselves.

Predicting an outright winner is no easy task given how little separates the two sides on paper. Neither side holds a clear edge, and a 1-1 draw would be a fitting reflection of the balance between them. More than just three points is on the line at the home ground — this is a fixture that could shape the narrative of both clubs' seasons. And Fonseca does not place too much weight on the decision of Roberto Martinez to omit him from the World Cup squad in favour of his Benfica team-mate Tomas Araujo.