The upcoming match between underdog Start and championship contender Viking has every chance of being a high-scoring affair. In their head-to-head meeting in May, Viking crushed Start 6-3, a result that vividly illustrates the difference in skill and attacking potential between the teams. Viking consistently scores, sitting second in the league with 34 goals in 14 matches, while Start concedes an average of 2.8 goals per game, and its defense is the worst in the league. Considering that Viking hasn't lost to Start on their home field in the league for 13 years, the visitors will be focused on attacking.
Start, meanwhile, battling relegation, secured a comeback win over Kristiansund (2-1) in the last matchday, but prior to that, the team had been on a four-game losing streak. This victory is unlikely to fundamentally change their game plan, and they will be forced to push forward to score against the favorites, which will lead to open football and open spaces for Viking to counterattack. Statistics confirm this trend: in four of Start's last five matches, the total goals were over 2.5, while Viking has done so in all five of their last five.
The teams' combined statistics and previous encounters strongly favor a high-scoring match. Start's goals-against record and Viking's attacking prowess, as well as their high-scoring performance in head-to-head matches (16 goals scored in the last three matches), create ideal conditions for a bet on Over 2.5.
