Cyprus welcome Norway to the AEK Arena in Larnaca for a European Championship qualifier which kicks off at 7.45pm.
Norway travel there sitting third in Group A, just two points behind second-placed Spain, and will be looking to close the gap on the two sides above them and qualify for next summer’s European Championships in Germany.
The hosts have endured a torrid qualifying campaign having gained zero points so far, conceding 17 goals and scoring just two themselves and given the reverse fixture saw Norway triumph as 3-1 victors in June, Cyprus may be in for another tough time tonight.
Team news
Both sides arrive at full strength, with no major injuries in either camp, which will be worrying news for Cyprus as it means Norway will likely name both Erling Haaland and Marton Odegaard in their starting lineup.
Norway to win and over 2.5 goals @ 8/11
Norway will be looking to boost their qualifying hopes with a win in Cyprus and have a good chance of doing just that.
They were 3-1 victors when the sides last met and have scored eight goals in their two games since, when beating Jordan and Georgia respectively, suggesting that they may be hitting form at the right time.
They will have two games remaining in the group stage following this contest, with the two sides above them Spain and Scotland up next and will be looking to land a statement victory against Cyprus to put the pressure on their next opponents.
Cyprus have shipped 17 goals in their five qualifiers, and it looks likely that total will rise to above 20 with Norway set to land a big win in Larnaca and get within reaching distance of the two sides above them in the group.
Erling Haaland to score 2+ goals @ 5/2
In the reverse fixture Norway’s star man Erling Haaland scored two of his side’s three goals, and he looks likely to at least match that feat again tonight.
The Manchester City forward has notched eight in as many Premier League games this season, as well as four in three European qualifying matches, so he arrives in good form, as he typically does.
Given Cyprus’s leaky defence and Haaland’s prolific nature, backing the big Norwegian to bag at least two goals seems a solid bet.
Match Odds
Our market suggests that Norway are strong favourites, with the away side priced at 1/5 to take the three points and the hosts at 14/1 to triumph, with the draw available at 11/2.
Over 2.5 goals is priced at 8/13, but taking Norway to score over 2.5 goals at 1/1 may be a more appealing betting proposition, given that Cyprus have managed just two goals in five qualifying matches so far.
Haaland is unsurprisingly the most obvious anytime goalscorer according to the market, priced at 8/15. He is 2/1 to score first, or another appealing option is Villarreal striker Alexander Sorloth, who has five in 11 club matches this season, to score anytime at 5/4.
