Moldova is often considered one of the less - prominent teams in European football. As per the FIFA world rankings, it stands at 151st place. However, under the guidance of Serghei Clescenco, the Moldovan team had a successful 2024 campaign by their own measures.

Last year, in 10 international matches, the Moldovan national team, known as the Tricolours, achieved six wins, two draws, and only two losses. Three of those victories were crucial in enabling them to secure the top position in League D Group 2 of the UEFA Nations League, surpassing Malta and Andorra and earning promotion.

Currently, Moldova aims to carry the momentum from 2024 into 2025. They are striving to qualify for their first major international tournament and prevent a third successive World Cup qualification campaign where they end up at the bottom of their group.

The Moldovan team led by Clescenco will be glad to play on home turf. They have won their last three home matches convincingly. Nevertheless, in five attempts against Norway, they have never managed a victory. The closest they came was in March 2005 during a World Cup qualifying match, when they played to a 0 - 0 draw at home.

Norway did not get off to the best of starts in 2024, as they only won one friendly out of four across the first six months - a 3-0 success over Kosovo - while they also had to watch Euro 2024 from home over the summer after they failed to qualify for the tournament for the sixth time in a row.

However, the Lions ended the year on a high by accumulating 13 points from a possible 18 available (W4 D1 L1) in the UEFA Nations League to finish top of League B Group 3 and secure promotion to the top tier.

A heavy 5-1 defeat away against Austria was the only real blot on their copybook and they responded to that by winning their final two group fixtures in November against Slovenia and Kazakhstan by an aggregate score of 9-1, with Erling Haaland scoring four of those goals.

Ranked 43rd in the world by FIFA, Norway are now focused on making a strong start to their World Cup qualification campaign as they endeavour to secure their spot at the 2026 tournament, almost three decades on from their last World Cup appearance back in 1998.

Stale Solbakken's side head into Saturday's contest having won each of their last four meetings with Moldova, scoring six goals and conceding just one in the process, but their away record leaves little to be desired as they have come out on top in only two of their last eight games on the road (D3 L3), conceding three or more goals on four occasions.

Ion Nicolaescu has only scored five goals in 17 Eredivisie fixtures for Heerenveen this season, but he is Moldova's all-time record goalscorer (16) and is expected to earn his 50th international cap this weekend.

Versatile player Sergiu Platica is another poised to make his 50th appearance for Moldova and could operate either at centre-back or on the left side of a back five, while Vadim Rata, Mihail Caimacov and Nichita Motpan are all in contention to play in midfield.

As for Norway, Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen and Genoa midfielder Morten Thorsby have both withdrawn from the squad through injury, the former of whom has fractured a bone in his hand.

Martin Odegaard is back in the national team squad after missing their last four Nations League games towards the end of last year due to injury, and the Arsenal playmaker is expected to captain Norway in centre-midfield, potentially alongside Sander Berge and Patrick Berg.

Erling Haaland is Norway's all-time top scorer with a remarkable 38 goals in 39 games and the Manchester City striker is poised to lead the line on Saturday, with 21-goal Alexander Sorloth set to provide support in attack.

Moldova possible starting lineup:

Celeadnic; Revenco, Craciun, Baboglo, Mudrac, Platica; Caimacov, Rata, Motpan; Postolachi, Nicolaescu

Norway possible starting lineup:

Selvik; Pedersen, Ajer, Ostigard, Ryerson; Berg, Berge, Odegaard; Hauge, Haaland, Sorloth