Vidar vs Notodden - 2. Division - Group 1

Tactical intrigue takes centre stage on May 3, 2026 as Vidar and Notodden prepare to square off at the home ground, with both managers known for their strategic nuance in the 2. Division - Group 1. The 74-year-old Hoops boss admitted that "it'll be a bit strange not having the (Celtic) fans in but I'm nervously and excitedly looking forward to it; it's a great fixture" and also spoke about the police visit.

Both camps will view the 2. Division - Group 1 meeting at the home ground as an opportunity to put a marker down, regardless of where they currently stand. Results have been in short supply for the hosts, with WLLLL across their last five and a campaign win rate of 10% that makes for grim reading. Notodden have travelled reasonably well, WLWLL over their last five with a season win rate of 50%. Goals could be in short supply or plentiful — Vidar average 0.9 per game to Notodden's 1.5, and that gap may dictate the rhythm of the contest. During his 22 matches in charge, Oxford actually ranked as high as 14th in the table.

Tactically, the contest promises a fascinating contrast. Vidar will look to impose their style on home soil, while Notodden are likely to have ideas of their own about how to gain the upper hand. In attack, Brazilian forward Kaua Elias has emerged as a name of interest, with United scouts watching the Shakhtar Donetsk striker after his hat‑trick against Kudrivka on Monday.

The fixture is likely to be shaped by its key performers, with creative midfielders and clinical finishers on both sides capable of turning the game in an instant. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest applauds the fans as he warms up prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United and Nottingham Forest(Image: Getty) United are reportedly eyeing a move for Brentford striker Igor Thiago this summer.

Without the market to lean on, the contest feels genuinely open — and the outcome may come down to which side handles the occasion better. Neither side holds a clear edge, and a 2-2 draw would be a fitting reflection of the balance between them. The ramifications of this result could ripple through the 2. Division - Group 1 standings for weeks to come, regardless of who comes out on top. 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.