Still no Bell. That's a bit of a concern.
Stensness starts for Viking.
Edit - Viking win 6-3! Stensness a goal.
Stensness starts for Viking.
Edit - Viking win 6-3! Stensness a goal.
It seems he is injured and won't play in this game. Hopefully the injury is not too bad.
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Viking win 2-1, and go top of the league
No Bell. He’s missed their last 3 games
No Bell. He’s missed their last 3 games
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Niche Cache
Morten Jensen, VFK coach: “It is very well deserved. He is one of the country's best players, and it came as no surprise to us that he is going to the World Cup. All of Viking and Stavanger are proud that Joe Bell is our player. In the World Cup he will represent his own country, but also us in a way. I think most people in Stavanger will follow New Zealand and cheer for Bell.”
Morten Jensen, VFK coach: “It is very well deserved. He is one of the country's best players, and it came as no surprise to us that he is going to the World Cup. All of Viking and Stavanger are proud that Joe Bell is our player. In the World Cup he will represent his own country, but also us in a way. I think most people in Stavanger will follow New Zealand and cheer for Bell.”
Right on, brother. They reckon that Bell was the first active Viking player to be selected for a World Cup squad since Reidar Kvammen for Norway all the way back in 1938... although that honour didn’t last too long with Henrik Falchener since included in Norway’s class of 2026. There’s still hope for Gianni Stensness and Nick D’Agostino (the latter has been on loan at Brisbane Roar) who are in the wider training squad for Australia and could yet make the final cut.
But there is a worry here because Bell has a calf injury and hasn’t played for a month. He’s missed four straight games... though according to the linked article he reckons he’ll be fine for the World Cup opener. The thing is, Viking have won all four of those games so it hasn’t really been a talking point. After losing their season opener they’re now on a nine-game winning streak and sitting happily at the top of the table same as how they finished 2025.
It’s possible that they’ve been taking it easy with Bell and that he’d have been playing if not for the World Cup (which VFK will be healthily remunerated for, remember). They did have a game scheduled against Lillestrøm this upcoming weekend but thanks to having two players selected for World Cup squads they’ve been allowed to postpone that. Whatever the deal is with Bell’s calf, it’s full steam ahead for the World Cup now with no more Eliteserien matches until mid-July.
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Monday
Eliteserien restarts. Leaders Viking travel to Sarpsborg (6th)
https://us.soccerway.com/game/sarpsborg-08-UPrP2SMS/viking-bXAgOWwb/?mid=I54swhjU
Norwegians will either be on a football high or low, post the England QF.
Viking play 2 legged UCL qualifier from August 18th. They have Aussies Franco and Daggers back from their ALM loan deals.
Eliteserien restarts. Leaders Viking travel to Sarpsborg (6th)
https://us.soccerway.com/game/sarpsborg-08-UPrP2SMS/viking-bXAgOWwb/?mid=I54swhjU
Norwegians will either be on a football high or low, post the England QF.
Viking play 2 legged UCL qualifier from August 18th. They have Aussies Franco and Daggers back from their ALM loan deals.
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Thursday
Viking (2nd) travel to Lillestrom (4th)
https://us.soccerway.com/game/lillestrom-xYWBZlwN/viking-bXAgOWwb/?mid=YwGdwtTF
Viking with a tough 3 away Eliteserien games in 10 days.
UEFA draw to be made August 3rd, re who Viking will line up against in their 2 legged Champions League playoff.
Viking (2nd) travel to Lillestrom (4th)
https://us.soccerway.com/game/lillestrom-xYWBZlwN/viking-bXAgOWwb/?mid=YwGdwtTF
Viking with a tough 3 away Eliteserien games in 10 days.
UEFA draw to be made August 3rd, re who Viking will line up against in their 2 legged Champions League playoff.
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Bell 68 mins (1-1) in a 1-1 draw.
Full and a yellow Stensness (misses next match suspended).
Full and a yellow Stensness (misses next match suspended).
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Viking (2nd) travel to Start (16th/last).
https://us.soccerway.com/game/start-CUoNY9xc/viking-bXAgOWwb/?mid=vyoNPyH6
https://us.soccerway.com/game/start-CUoNY9xc/viking-bXAgOWwb/?mid=vyoNPyH6
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No Bell as Viking win 3-0. Stensness also missing with suspension.
Apparently they have a highly promising young player Tobias Moi coming through who could fill Bell’s spot if Joe Zen decides to move on. Moi picked up a yellow and is suspended for the next game.
But surely Bell waits to see how Viking go with their UCL playoff first, before considering a potential move elsewhere.
UEFA draw to be made tomorrow or Tuesday our time, re who Viking will line up against in their 2 legged Champions League playoff.
Apparently they have a highly promising young player Tobias Moi coming through who could fill Bell’s spot if Joe Zen decides to move on. Moi picked up a yellow and is suspended for the next game.
But surely Bell waits to see how Viking go with their UCL playoff first, before considering a potential move elsewhere.
UEFA draw to be made tomorrow or Tuesday our time, re who Viking will line up against in their 2 legged Champions League playoff.
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Norwegian club Viking FK was drawn to face the winner of the tie between GNK Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) and FK Kauno Žalgiris (Lithuania) in the champions league play off draw.
Assume that this will likely be Dinamo Zagreb, which may be a winnable tie for Bell.
Auckland will rise once more
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Endorsed by
Zagreb will be tough. They won the Croatian League last season by a clear 18 points.
CB Scott McKenna (in Scotland's squad for the WC) one of their better known players. Stjepan Radeljić also at the WC with Bosnia. Some young age group internationals with Croatia, Sweden etc.
Games 18th or 19th August and 25th or 26th August.
Euro transfer window closes 31st August. Maybe if Viking don't win the two legged UCL qualifier tie (so drop into the Europa League?) Bell secures a transfer elsewhere?
CB Scott McKenna (in Scotland's squad for the WC) one of their better known players. Stjepan Radeljić also at the WC with Bosnia. Some young age group internationals with Croatia, Sweden etc.
Games 18th or 19th August and 25th or 26th August.
Euro transfer window closes 31st August. Maybe if Viking don't win the two legged UCL qualifier tie (so drop into the Europa League?) Bell secures a transfer elsewhere?
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Niche Cache. Hopefully a non serious injury. Be a right bugger if he missed those UCL playoff games.
Over in Norway there was a 3-0 win for Viking FK away against Start. By far their most comfortable outing since the Eliteserien resumed... however Joe Bell had no part in it. He pulled up injured during the week and wasn’t able to recover in time, adding to a disturbingly long list of absentees just two weeks out from their Champions League playoffs. They now know they’ll face either Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) or FK Kauno Zalgiris (Lithuania) in that two-legged tie, with the winner moving into the UCL league phase and the loser dropping into the Europa League league phase. Gianni Stensness was also suspended for the Start game. Didn’t matter for that match but Bellinho has two weeks to get himself fit again.
Over in Norway there was a 3-0 win for Viking FK away against Start. By far their most comfortable outing since the Eliteserien resumed... however Joe Bell had no part in it. He pulled up injured during the week and wasn’t able to recover in time, adding to a disturbingly long list of absentees just two weeks out from their Champions League playoffs. They now know they’ll face either Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) or FK Kauno Zalgiris (Lithuania) in that two-legged tie, with the winner moving into the UCL league phase and the loser dropping into the Europa League league phase. Gianni Stensness was also suspended for the Start game. Didn’t matter for that match but Bellinho has two weeks to get himself fit again.
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No surprises no Bell, as Viking win 2-1. Full game Stensess.
Viking (2nd) a point behind Bodo/Glimt (1st), but Viking the game in hand.
Same as last season it's looking like a very tight title race.
It's almost certain now Viking will play Dinamo Zagreb in their UCL 2 legged qualifier. Zagreb lead Kauno Žalgiris 5–0 after their 1st leg.
Viking (2nd) a point behind Bodo/Glimt (1st), but Viking the game in hand.
Same as last season it's looking like a very tight title race.
It's almost certain now Viking will play Dinamo Zagreb in their UCL 2 legged qualifier. Zagreb lead Kauno Žalgiris 5–0 after their 1st leg.
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Niche Cache
Joe Bell missed another game as Viking FK scored a last-minute winner to beat Sarpsborg 2-1. Keeps them second by one point with a game in hand on leaders Bodø/Glimt. That’s good stuff but the main focus right now is the Champions League qualifiers coming up very soon. They’ve been drawn against Dinamo Zagreb with the first leg away in Croatia next Wednesday at 7am NZT. Gigantic occasion for the club. Bellinho has been dealing with a calf complaint but according to the local papers he’s back in training already and should be available not only for the trip to Croatia but potentially the league match against Rosenborg beforehand.
Joe Bell missed another game as Viking FK scored a last-minute winner to beat Sarpsborg 2-1. Keeps them second by one point with a game in hand on leaders Bodø/Glimt. That’s good stuff but the main focus right now is the Champions League qualifiers coming up very soon. They’ve been drawn against Dinamo Zagreb with the first leg away in Croatia next Wednesday at 7am NZT. Gigantic occasion for the club. Bellinho has been dealing with a calf complaint but according to the local papers he’s back in training already and should be available not only for the trip to Croatia but potentially the league match against Rosenborg beforehand.
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Viking lose 2-1. Full game Stensness.
Bell off the pine at 72 mins (1-1). 2nd goal conceded in 95th min.
Viking may have rested a few with a big eye to week's huge first leg in Croatia (UCL qualifer)
Bell off the pine at 72 mins (1-1). 2nd goal conceded in 95th min.
Viking may have rested a few with a big eye to week's huge first leg in Croatia (UCL qualifer)
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Wednesday.
Big game. Viking travel to Dinamo Zagreb.
https://us.soccerway.com/game/din-zagreb-8G5ufQTg/viking-bXAgOWwb/?mid=O49PC8FO
Big game. Viking travel to Dinamo Zagreb.
https://us.soccerway.com/game/din-zagreb-8G5ufQTg/viking-bXAgOWwb/?mid=O49PC8FO
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