Viking Chase the Title While Europe Beckons
Defending Eliteserien champions Viking FK sit second in the table with 40 points from 16 matches, just one point behind Bodø/Glimt. The Stavanger club are simultaneously preparing for UEFA Champions League qualifying, with the return leg set for Lyse Arena on 26 August.
Viking Sit Second, Champions League Awaits
Viking FK are having a remarkable 2026 Eliteserien campaign, sitting second in the table with 40 points from 16 matches — a record of 13 wins, one draw and two defeats. The defending champions are breathing down the neck of league leaders Bodø/Glimt, who hold 41 points from one game more.
The team's home form at Lyse Arena has been nothing short of spectacular. All seven home matches have ended in victory, with an average attendance of 15,781 — several matches drawing a full-capacity crowd of 15,900. Highlights include a stunning 5–0 demolition of Bodø/Glimt on 11 April and a 6–3 thriller against IK Start on 16 May.
UEFA Champions League on the Horizon
As defending Eliteserien champions, Viking have earned a place in the 2026–27 UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds. The club's official schedule lists two-legged play-off ties against either Dinamo Zagreb or FK Kauno Žalgiris, with the away leg on 18 August and the return fixture at Lyse Arena on 26 August.
Qualifying for Europe's premier club competition represents a significant milestone for the Stavanger club, continuing a period of sustained success under managers Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim and Morten Jensen — now in their sixth season together at the helm.
Next Up: A Trip to Rosenborg
Before the European adventure begins, Viking face a crucial Eliteserien away fixture at Rosenborg on Friday 14 August. With the title race still alive, every league point matters as the season heads into its second half.
Fans will then have to wait until 29 August for the next home league match at Lyse Arena, when Aalesund come to Stavanger for Matchday 19. Following that, the Champions League return leg on 26 August promises to be one of the most electric nights Lyse Arena has seen in years.
