Ham-Kam Look to Halt Rosenborg’s Charge at Briskeby Arena
A Tale of Two Directions
When Ham-Kam host Rosenborg at Briskeby Arena on Saturday evening (kickoff 18:00 local time), the two sides will arrive travelling in very different directions. Rosenborg have won four of their last five league and cup outings, while Ham-Kam are staring at a run that has produced just one win in their last five matches across all competitions.
Ham-Kam: Leaky at the Back, Dangerous Going Forward
The hosts sit with seven wins, five draws and eleven defeats from 23 league games, and the defensive numbers make for uncomfortable reading. Ham-Kam have shipped 48 goals, an average of 2.1 per match, and last month’s 5-1 home thrashing by Molde at Briskeby Arena is still fresh in the memory. Last Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Bodø/Glimt only added to the frustration.
There is a spark, however. The 4-2 win away at Start showed what Ham-Kam can do when their attack clicks, and they have a habit of scoring late, with nearly half of their goals arriving in the final stages of each half. Their 5-3-2 shape has been a constant all season, and they have been markedly better at home, where they have won five times compared with just twice on the road.
Rosenborg: Rolling and Ruthless
Rosenborg arrive with 11 wins from 23 and a recent run that suggests momentum is building. Last weekend’s 3-0 win at Sarpsborg 08 was a statement, following a 3-1 victory at Kristiansund and a 4-1 cup demolition of Fløya. Even the 1-1 draw with Sandefjord was a game they will feel they should have won.
Their approach is traditional: a 4-4-2 used in the vast majority of matches, with a tendency to start fast. Ten of their 43 goals have come inside the opening 15 minutes, so Ham-Kam, who have already conceded five times in that window, will need to be switched on from the first whistle. Away from home, Rosenborg are less prolific, scoring 1.4 per game compared with 2.3 at Lerkendal, but they have kept four clean sheets on their travels.
The Head-to-Head Picture
History offers the visitors considerable comfort. Rosenborg won the most recent meeting 4-0 in early September, and across the last nine encounters they have won six, with Ham-Kam taking only two. That said, Ham-Kam’s 4-0 victory at this ground in September 2025 shows the fixture is capable of throwing up surprises, and that result will be a source of belief for the home side.
Key Battles and What to Expect
The central question is whether Ham-Kam’s porous defence can contain a Rosenborg side with goals in their legs. The hosts have conceded most heavily in the 46-60 minute window, so the period immediately after half-time could prove decisive. Rosenborg, meanwhile, have shown a tendency to concede in the 61-75 minute spell, offering Ham-Kam a potential route back into the game if they stay in touch.
Ham-Kam will need their home crowd at Briskeby Arena to make the difference and a disciplined start to avoid early damage. Rosenborg, with the better form and the stronger record in this fixture, will fancy their chances of leaving Hamar with all three points. Expect an open, goal-laden contest, but one in which the visitors’ momentum could prove the difference.
