Westergaard banned as Vålerenga and Brann both miss players
Vålerenga will be without the suspended Magnus Westergaard when Brann visit Intility Arena on Sunday. Brann also lose Kristall Ingason to a ban, and both squads have injury worries. The match is a meeting between seventh-placed Brann and 13th-placed Vålerenga.
Absences on the home side
FotMob's team news lists three Vålerenga players as unavailable for Sunday's visit of Brann. Magnus Westergaard is suspended for the match on 18 October. Kevin Tshiembe is out with a groin injury and Omar Bully Drammeh with an Achilles problem.
Tshiembe's status is given as doubtful. Drammeh's Achilles injury carries a return estimate of mid-October, which leaves his availability on the day unclear.
The suspension is the one certain absence, because it is fixed for this specific fixture. The two injuries could still change before kick-off.
Brann arrive with their own list
The visitors have an even longer list. Kristall Ingason is suspended for the same match, so both clubs lose a player to a ban.
Niklas Castro has a thigh injury and is doubtful. Leo Cornic (groin) and Sakarias Opsahl (foot) both have mid-October return estimates. Sondre Tronstad (cruciate ligament) and Ulrik Mathisen (broken toe) are listed as back in early November. Nana Boakye has a knee injury and is out for the season.
In total, FotMob lists seven Brann players as unavailable. That is more than the three listed for Vålerenga.
What is at stake
The table shows why the points matter to both sides. After 22 games, Brann are seventh in the Eliteserien with 29 points. Vålerenga are 13th with 23 points, two places above Aalesund on 21 and four ahead of Kristiansund BK on 19.
Vålerenga can still close on Brann, who are six points ahead. Vålerenga's recent home form includes a 1-1 draw with Fredrikstad on 20 September in front of 10,865 spectators.
Match-day information for supporters
Kick-off at Intility Arena is at 17:00 on Sunday 18 October. The club's ticket page shows tickets still on sale, in sections across three stands.
Standing places in Østblokka, sections 401 to 406, cost NOK 210. Numbered seats in the Oslo Taxi stand, sections 301 to 308, cost NOK 249 for adults, NOK 149 for youth, students and seniors, and NOK 99 for children.
In the main stand, adult seats in sections 103 and 106 cost NOK 299. Adult seats in sections 101, 102, 107 and 108 cost NOK 249.
The Oslo Taxi stand and Østblokka are reserved for Vålerenga supporters only. Away colours and effects are allowed only in the away section, sections 201 and 202.
The club also reminds fans that intoxicated people will not be admitted and that spectators should expect to be searched at the gates. Smoking is banned at the arena, and tickets are not refundable.
Sources: fotmob.com, vif-fotball.ticketco.events
