Viking Second in Eliteserien With Home Clash Against Aalesund Up Next
Viking FK sit just one point behind Eliteserien leaders Bodø/Glimt after 17 matchdays, with 40 points and a goal difference of +23. The defending champions host Aalesund at Lyse Arena on 29 August, days after a UEFA Champions League qualifying second leg against Dinamo Zagreb. A rare road defeat to Rosenborg has only sharpened the focus in Stavanger.
Defending Champions Sitting Pretty in Second
Viking FK continue to impress in the 2026 Eliteserien campaign, sitting second in the table with 40 points from 17 matches — just one point behind leaders Bodø/Glimt, who have played the same number of games. The defending champions have recorded 13 wins, one draw and three defeats, scoring 40 goals and conceding just 17.
The title race is shaping up to be a thrilling two-horse affair, with Viking's goal difference of +23 underlining just how dominant Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim and Morten Jensen's side have been throughout the season.
Rosenborg Defeat a Rare Bump in the Road
Viking's most recent outing ended in a 2–1 defeat away at Rosenborg on Friday 14 August — a rare slip for a squad that had previously beaten the same opponents 3–0 at Lyse Arena on 1 May. Before the Rosenborg setback, Viking had dispatched Sarpsborg 08 2–1 at home on 8 August in front of 15,759 supporters, and hammered IK Start 3–0 away on 1 August.
The defeat at Rosenborg will serve as a timely reminder that nothing is settled in a title race that still has 13 matchdays remaining.
Lyse Arena Next Up: Aalesund on 29 August
Viking fans will not have long to wait for the team's next home outing. Aalesund visit Lyse Arena on Saturday 29 August, kick-off at 18:00 local time, in matchday 19 of the Eliteserien. It is an opportunity for the hosts to return to winning ways on home turf and pile pressure back on Bodø/Glimt at the top of the table.
Lyse Arena's capacity of 15,900 has been tested throughout the campaign, with recent home fixtures regularly drawing attendances close to the ground's limit. The visit of a newly promoted Aalesund side looking to secure their top-flight survival should provide an electric atmosphere in Stavanger.
Champions League Playoff Also on the Horizon
As if the title race were not enough, Viking also face a UEFA Champions League qualifying play-off second leg against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday 26 August — just three days before the Aalesund league fixture. The club's participation in European competition this season reflects the strides Viking have made since returning to the Eliteserien, and a potential passage through to the next round would mark a historic moment for the club and its supporters at Lyse Arena.
