Viking Sit Second With Aalesund Visit Next at Lyse Arena
Viking FK remain right in the thick of the 2026 Eliteserien title race, one point behind leaders Bodø/Glimt after 17 games. The club return to Lyse Arena on 29 August to host Aalesund, looking to maintain pressure on the summit — all while juggling UEFA Champions League qualifying against Dinamo Zagreb.
Second Place and Pushing Hard
Viking FK head into the final stretch of the 2026 Eliteserien season sitting second in the table, just one point behind leaders Bodø/Glimt after 17 matches played. The Stavanger club have recorded 13 wins, one draw and three defeats, accumulating 40 points and a goal difference of +23 — a remarkable return that underlines just how competitive Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim and Morten Jensen's side have been all campaign.
The most recent league outing was a 2–1 defeat away to Rosenborg on 14 August — a result that will have stung, but one that does little to dim the ambitions of a squad that has been among the most free-scoring in the division.
Lyse Arena Next Up: Aalesund on 29 August
Attention now turns firmly to home matters. Viking welcome Aalesund to Lyse Arena on Saturday, 29 August, with kick-off scheduled for 18:00. It is matchday 19 of the Eliteserien season, and with Bodø/Glimt breathing down their necks at the top, three points at home are close to essential if the title ambitions are to remain alive.
Aalesund arrive at Lyse Arena sitting near the foot of the table, which will give the home faithful reason for optimism. Viking's home record this season has been formidable — seven wins from seven home matches, scoring 25 goals and conceding just eight in those fixtures.
European Adventure Also in the Picture
As if the league race were not dramatic enough, Viking are simultaneously competing in UEFA Champions League qualifying. A tie against Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb is on the horizon, with the return leg pencilled in for 26 August — just days before the Aalesund league clash. Navigating a packed fixture schedule will test the squad's depth, but it is a challenge the club and supporters at Lyse Arena are more than happy to embrace.
With European football, a title race, and a packed home schedule still to come, Lyse Arena is set to be a very busy and very loud place between now and December.
