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Matchday 8 of the Norwegian 1. divisjon 2025; Åsane Fotball hosted its league clash in the Åsane Arena (Bergen) against Ranheim Fotball, under heavy rain. In the end, the home team could celebrate its 2-1 win.

In the previous round, Åsane Fotball faced Sogndal Fotball in the opposition team’s home stadium (Fosshaugane Campus), which ended with a 2-0 loss; Ranheim Fotball on the away side, finished 1-1 against Raufoss IL at home.

Åsane Fotball, led by coach Eirik Bakke (former player of Sogndal Fotball and SK Brann in Norway, Leeds United and Aston Villa in England), started this encounter in a 3-5-2 (flat) line-up, which became 5-3-2 out of possession (as we can see by the image below). Their back line was well-organized and disciplined through the defending phase, and they put a lot of strength and tenacity to keep this 5-3-2 defensive shape, under opposition offense. The two strikers (Erling Myklebust, playing as Target man and Steffen Lie Skålevik, in a more mobile role) demonstrated convincing offensive presence and performance, which made the difference in the end (as both scored).

(Åsane Fotball’s usual 5-3-2 defensive shape)

Ranheim Fotball, under the guidance of its young and talented coach Christian Eggen Rismark, opted for 4-3-3 formation. Other shapes (like 4-5-1 / as we can see below) were also perceptible through their defensive play. The team’s build-up tactic was simple: they put focus on a confident and ball possession based game, with lot of short passes – without taking big risks. By this type of play, they often slowed down the tempo, and tried to break up the closed and well-organized Åsane Fotball defense. It was also delighting to see, how veteran (substitution) player Per Ciljan Skjelbred (formerly playing for Rosenborg BK, and German clubs Hamburger SV and Hertha BSC) gave extra stability and creativity for the midfield section.

(Ranheim Fotball in its 4-5-1 formation, during the defending phase)

The first goal of the clash came up in the 15th minute, when Erling Myklebust scored a fantastic goal, by a brilliant long ball of left midfielder Knut Haga (1-0). Only few moments after the start of the second half, Myklebust’s fellow striker Steffen Lie Skålevik doubled Åsane Fotball‘s lead by a penalty he won for himself (2-0). Although in the 70th minute, Faroese winger of Ranheim Fotball, Áki Samuelsen scored a consolation goal (2-1), there were no more hits in the match.

(The fantastic touch of Åsane Fotball striker Erling Myklebust, before scoring the leading goal)

Both coaches (Eirik Bakke of Åsane Fotball, and Christian Eggen Rismark of Ranheim Fotball) should be praised for their disciplined and pressure resilient defending, which resulted a tough and hard-fought game.

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