Running out of time, and as we may face no less than three Norwegian teams, here they come all at once.
Things to know about Vålerenga
Last season: 2nd
Qualified through: League position
Coach: Martin Andresen
Star: Luton Shelton
Links to Örebro: Both team were rumoured to chase Fulham fullback Fredrik Stoor in the January window. Stoor eventually signed for Vålerenga
Comment: Often referred to as the Hammarby of Norway. Teams that think it is an objective truth that they are charming have a tendency to make me vomit. But they have good fans and like Hammarby they are unpredictable. After a great last season they are now, soon midway through the Norwegian league, fighting relegation.
This is how we beat them: By being better than a Norwegian bottom team
Chance of Örebro winning: 60%
Things to know about Tromsø IL
Last season: 3rd
Qualified through: League position, entering in the 1st round
Coach: Per Mathias Høgmo
Star: Sigurd Rushfeldt, 38-year old striker who scored more goals in the Norwegian League than any other player, despite 10 or so years abroad. Played against Baresi in the 1994 World Cup.
Links to Örebro: Andriano Munoz was brought on to the Örebro squad from Tromsø. We remember him for a great goal against Gefle. Nothing else.
Comment: The arctic club brought up to the Norwegian top division for the first time by coach Tommy Svensson in 1990. That was enough to make him coach of Sweden. But Tromsø has stayed up ever since save for a one-year spell in 2002. The 3rd spot last year tied the result of 2008 as the best in the club’s history. In 2009 they made it to the Europa League Play off, just losing to Athletic Bilbao. The success is continuing this season, the team tops the Norwegian league, unbeaten after 10 games.
This is how we beat them: Despite a non-imposing squad, this will be tough. It’s not a high-scoring team, so if we can break the solid defence we have a good chance.
Chance of Örebro winning: 40%
Things to know about Ålesund
Last season: 4th
Qualified through: Fair play, entering in the 1st round
Coach: Kjetil Rekdal (83 caps for Norway!)
Star: Michael Barrantes Rojas, attacking midfielder
Links to Örebro: This is where we found (Örebro born) Magnus Kihlberg for the 2008 season. And one of the teams will get a star player back from the gold cup soon as Alejandro Bedoya (U.S) will face Jason Morrison (Jamaica) in the quarterfinals.
Comment: Feels like a fight between equals. Ålesund were fourth last year and are currently fourth in a league of similar strength despite having some more financial muscle (Ålesunds budget is about 50% higher than Örebro’s. A newcomer in the elite of Norwegian football, last season was their best ever and they debuted in the Europa League qualifier as cupwinners, losing to Motherwell in the 3rd round.
This is how we beat them: 2 players stand out from the rest: Cost Rican Rojas, mentioned above joined on loan last season and is now permanent and Jason Morrison, defender or defensive midfielder that was brought on for this season and who has 25 caps for Jamaica, was brought on from Strømgodset in the run up to this season.
Chance of Örebro winning: 50%.
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