The last couple of rounds of the Tippeliga may have been underwhelming, but the good news is that this Sunday’s cup final between local rivals Molde and Aalesund is guaranteed to be a cracker. And even better, NFN will cover it in our own unmistakable style – with a live-blog to end all live-blogs.
Norway is one of the few countries in Europe where the cup final is still the biggest club-game of the calendar, and the spectacle certainly won’t suffer from the fact that this time around it’s a local derby. Both the quarter and semi-final rounds were jam-packed with drama and general craziness, and the punters should prepare for more of the same as the blue and orange armies of Molde and Aalesund descend on the nation’s capital.
Molde have been the people’s team this season, with their swashbuckling style a perfect antidote to Rosenborg’s relentless yet unimaginative league dominance. With attacking talent like Manchester United-bound Mame Biram Diouf, the magnificent Makhtar Thioune and metrosexual midfielder Magne Hoseth amongst their ranks, Molde scored more goals than any other team in the league this season and rarely fail to bring the flair and flash when they go out to play football. There is widespread agreement that Molde deserve a trophy for their efforts this season and they are clear favorites to triumph on the day.
Standing in their way however are bitter local rivals Aalesund, managed by the entertainingly confrontational yet undeniably canny Kjetil Rekdal and spearheaded by preposterously tall striker Tor Hogne Aarøy. In spite of finishing a lowly 13th Aalesund are not a team to be messed with, and if they get it right on the day they are more than capable of giving their more flashy opponents a good run for their money.
It should be one heck of a competition and NFN will be there at Ullevaal, providing concise yet imaginative commentary live on these here hallowed pages. Sunday 8th November, kick-off 13:15 CET with pre-match preamble some time before that. Be here or be rectangular.
5. November 2009 at 10:34 pm
Will there be any way to watch it online? I am having trouble deciphering the information at the Tornekrattet website. It was hard enough to figure out what the word “Tornekrattet” means in the first place. Finally an interlinear bible translation suggested that it means “thornbushes”.
The Sparebanken Møre will certainly get a marketing bonanza from this broadcast.
8. November 2009 at 9:05 am
By the way, Lars… Rekdal is currently unhappy with Tor Hogne Aarøy! :D