2020 Viking FK season

The 2020 season was Viking's 2nd consecutive year in Eliteserien, and their 70th season in the top flight of Norwegian football. The club participated in the Eliteserien and the UEFA Europa League. The Norwegian Cup was cancelled.

Viking

2020 season
Chair	Thor Steinar Sandvik
Manager	Bjarne Berntsen
Stadium	Viking Stadion
Eliteserien	6th
Norwegian Cup	Cancelled
UEFA Europa League	Second qualifying round
Top goalscorer	League: Veton Berisha (16) All: Veton Berisha (16)
Home colours Away colours Third colours
← 2019 2021 →

Squad

As of 28 November 2020^[1]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  NOR Iven Austbø 3 DF  NOR Viljar Vevatne (captain) 5 DF  ISL Axel Andrésson 6 DF  NOR Runar Hove 7 MF  KOS Zymer Bytyqi 8 MF  NZL Joe Bell 9 MF  NOR Fredrik Torsteinbø 10 FW  NOR Tommy Høiland 11 FW  NOR Yann-Erik de Lanlay 13 GK  WAL Michael Crowe 14 FW  NOR Veton Berisha 15 MF  NOR Johnny Furdal 16 FW  NOR Even Østensen

No. Pos. Nation Player 17 FW  NOR Sebastian Sebulonsen 18 DF  NOR Sondre Bjørshol 19 MF  NOR Sondre Auklend 20 FW  KOS Ylldren Ibrahimaj 22 GK  NOR Arild Østbø 23 DF  NOR Rolf Daniel Vikstøl 24 MF  NOR Kristoffer Løkberg 25 DF  NOR Sebastian Sørlie Henriksen 26 FW  NOR Jefferson de Souza 27 MF  ISL Samúel Friðjónsson 34 DF  NOR Kristoffer Forgaard Paulsen 35 DF  NOR Henrik Heggheim 41 GK  NOR Trym Sølvberg Ur

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 2 DF  NOR Herman Haugen (at Ull/Kisa) 4 DF  NOR Tord Salte (at Sandnes Ulf)

No. Pos. Nation Player 21 MF  NOR Harald Nilsen Tangen (at Åsane)

Transfers

See also: List of Norwegian football transfers winter 2019–20 and List of Norwegian football transfers summer 2020

Transfers in

Date	Pos.	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
1 January 2020	GK	Arild Østbø	Rosenborg	Free transfer	[2]
	FW	Yann-Erik de Lanlay	Rosenborg	Free transfer	[3]
	FW	Sebastian Sebulonsen	Sola	Undisclosed	[4]
10 January 2020	MF	Joe Bell	Virginia Cavaliers	Undisclosed	[5][6]
13 January 2020	FW	Veton Berisha	Brann	Undisclosed	[7]
6 February 2020	DF	Herman Haugen	Promoted from junior squad		[8]
	FW	Jefferson de Souza	Brodd	Undisclosed	[9]
15 May 2020	DF	Sebastian Sørlie Henriksen	Promoted from junior squad		[10]
	MF	Sondre Auklend	Promoted from junior squad		[11]
11 June 2020	DF	Henrik Heggheim	Promoted from junior squad		[12]
	MF	Lars Erik Sødal	Promoted from junior squad		[12]
9 July 2020	GK	Trym Sølvberg Ur	Promoted from junior squad		[13]
6 August 2020	GK	Michael Crowe	Free agent[a]		[14]
28 August 2020	DF	Kristoffer Forgaard Paulsen	Promoted from junior squad		[15]
5 October 2020	MF	Samúel Friðjónsson	Free agent[b]		[16]

Transfers out

Date	Pos.	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
1 January 2020	GK	Amund Wichne	Start	Free transfer	[17]
	MF	André Danielsen	Retired		[18]
	MF	Lasse Berg Johnsen	Released[c]		[19]
	FW	Jostein Ekeland	Sandnes Ulf	Free transfer	[20]
3 January 2020	MF	Kristian Thorstvedt	Genk	Undisclosed	[21]
15 January 2020	FW	Zlatko Tripić	Göztepe	Undisclosed	[22]
3 July 2020	GK	Erik Arnebrott	Contract terminated		[23][24]
12 September 2020	DF	Adrian Pereira	PAOK	Undisclosed	[25]

Loans out

Start date	Pos.	Name	To	End date	Ref.
5 February 2020	DF	Tord Salte	Sandnes Ulf	End of season	[26][27]
26 June 2020	DF	Herman Haugen	Ull/Kisa	End of season	[28][29]
8 August 2020	DF	Sebastian Sørlie Henriksen	Fram Larvik	End of season	[30][31]
26 August 2020	MF	Harald Nilsen Tangen	Åsane	End of season	[32][33]

Notes

1. Previous club: Preston North End
2. Previous club: SC Paderborn
3. Joined Raufoss on 23 January 2020

Friendlies

On 12 December 2019, Viking announced the friendly matches to be played in pre-season.^[34]

On 12 March 2020, all football in Norway was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[35]

Pre-season

WSG Tirol v Viking

29 January 2020 Friendly	WSG Tirol	1–3	Viking	La Manga, Spain
15:30 CET (UTC+1)	Pranter 42'	Report	Bytyqi 30' Nilsen Tangen 36' Bjørshol 90'

LASK v Viking

1 February 2020 Friendly	LASK	1–0	Viking	La Finca, Spain
14:00 CET (UTC+1)	Wiesinger 82'	Report

Viking v Arendal

9 February 2020 Friendly	Viking	1–1	Arendal	Stavanger, Norway
18:00 CET (UTC+1)	Sebulonsen 58'	Report	Arndal 75'	Stadium: Viking Stadion

Viking v Jerv

16 February 2020 Friendly	Viking	3–2	Jerv	Stavanger, Norway
16:00 CET (UTC+1)	Furdal 25' Nilsen Tangen  36' Ibrahimaj 75'	Report	Campos 10' (pen.), 50'	Stadium: Viking Stadion Attendance: 250

Viking v Stabæk

23 February 2020 Friendly	Viking	1–3	Stabæk	Stavanger, Norway
18:00 CET (UTC+1)	Ibrahimaj 67'	Report	Bohinen 41' (pen.) Isaksen 77' Azemi 90'	Stadium: Viking Stadion

Chayka v Viking

28 February 2020 Friendly	Chayka	3–5	Viking	Marbella, Spain
16:00 CET (UTC+1)	Østbø 45' (o.g.) Kulik 67' Bezdenezhnykh 69' (pen.)	Report	Hove 48' Torsteinbø 50', 55' Østensen 82' Høiland 89'

Tromsø v Viking

1 March 2020 Friendly	Tromsø	1–1	Viking	Marbella, Spain
18:00 CET (UTC+1)	Grønli 88'	Report	Vevatne 63'

Honka v Viking

6 March 2020 Friendly	Honka	2–1	Viking	Marbella, Spain
16:00 CET (UTC+1)	Kandji 18' Arko-Mensah 83'	Report	Vevatne 37'

Sandnes Ulf v Viking

6 June 2020 Friendly	Sandnes Ulf	1–3	Viking	Sandnes, Norway
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Berntsen 33'	Report	Ibrahimaj 40' Sebulonsen 71', 78'	Stadium: Øster Hus Arena Attendance: 0 Referee: Daniel Higraff

Haugesund v Viking

10 June 2020 Friendly	Haugesund	1–1	Viking	Haugesund, Norway
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Ammitzbøll 63'	Report	Vevatne 29'	Stadium: Haugesund Stadion Attendance: 0 Referee: Aleksander Vermundsen

Viking v Sandnes Ulf

11 June 2020 Friendly	Viking	5–0	Sandnes Ulf	Stavanger, Norway
13:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Østensen 33', 53' (pen.) de Souza 59' Nilsen Tangen 65' Bell 67'	Report		Stadium: Viking Stadion Attendance: 0 Referee: Tore Hansen

Competitions

Eliteserien

Main article: 2020 Eliteserien

Table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
4	Rosenborg	30	15	7	8	50	35	+15	52	Qualification for the Europa Conference League second qualifying round
5	Kristiansund	30	12	12	6	57	45	+12	48
6	Viking	30	12	8	10	54	52	+2	44
7	Odd	30	13	4	13	52	51	+1	43
8	Stabæk	30	9	12	9	41	45	−4	39

Source: Football Association of Norway (in Norwegian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if between two teams); 7) Head-to-head goals scored; 8) Play-off (only used to decide champions or relegation).^[36]

Results summary

Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
30	12	8	10	54	52	+2	44	7	4	4	34	22	+12	5	4	6	20	30	−10

Source: see below

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
Ground	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A
Result	L	L	D	L	W	D	L	L	W	W	L	L	D	D	W	W	W	W	W	D	L	D	L	W	W	W	W	D	D	L
Position	15	14	13	15	12	12	13	14	12	10	12	13	13	14	12	10	8	7	7	7	7	7	8	7	7	7	7	6	6	6

Source: nifs.no
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

The Eliteserien fixtures were announced on 19 December 2019.^[37] The season was originally scheduled to start on 4 April, but due to the coronavirus pandemic the football season was delayed. The new start date for the league was 16 June.^[38]

Viking v Bodø/Glimt

16 June 2020 1	Viking	2–4	Bodø/Glimt	Stavanger
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Torsteinbø 21' Østensen 42'	Report	Saltnes 27' Hauge 57' Fet 69' Zinckernagel 80'	Stadium: Viking Stadion Attendance: 200[39] Referee: Kristoffer Hagenes

Brann v Viking

21 June 2020 2	Brann	3–0	Viking	Bergen
20:30 CEST (UTC+2)	Bamba 52' Koomson 61' Hustad 90+4'	Report		Stadium: Brann Stadion Attendance: 200[39] Referee: Tommy Skjerven

Viking v Mjøndalen

24 June 2020 3	Viking	1–1	Mjøndalen	Stavanger
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Berisha 41' (pen.)	Report	Ibrahim 19'	Stadium: Viking Stadion Attendance: 200[39] Referee: Kai Erik Steen

Vålerenga v Viking

27 June 2020 4	Vålerenga	2–1	Viking	Oslo
20:30 CEST (UTC+2)	Vilhjálmsson 18' Vega 86'	Report	Ibrahimaj 71'	Stadium: Intility Arena Attendance: 200[39] Referee: Espen Eskås

Viking v Sandefjord

1 July 2020 5	Viking	2–0	Sandefjord	Stavanger
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Løkberg 56' Berisha 60'	Report		Stadium: Viking Stadion Attendance: 200[39] Referee: Rohit Saggi

Start v Viking

4 July 2020 6	Start	1–1	Viking	Kristiansand
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Schulze 75'	Report	Bytyqi 84'	Stadium: Sør Arena Attendance: 200[39] Referee: Ola Hobber Nilsen

Viking v Odd

12 July 2020 7	Viking	1–2	Odd	Stavanger
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Vevatne 61'	Report	Lauritsen 17' Jakobsen 90+2'	Stadium: Viking Stadion Attendance: 200[39] Referee: Tommy Skjerven

Molde v Viking

15 July 2020 8	Molde	5–0	Viking	Molde
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)	James 5' (pen.), 64' Hussain 13' Wingo 77' Andersen 81'	Report		Stadium: Aker Stadion Attendance: 200[39] Referee: Tom Harald Hagen

Haugesund v Viking

18 July 2020 9	Haugesund	0–2	Viking	Haugesund
20:30 CEST (UTC+2)		Report	Ibrahimaj 30' Bytyqi 80'	Stadium: Haugesund Stadion Attendance: 200[39] Referee: Kristoffer Hagenes

Viking v Sarpsborg 08

26 July 2020 10	Viking	3–0	Sarpsborg 08	Stavanger
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Løkberg 3' Pereira 36', 46'	Report		Stadium: Viking Stadion Attendance: 200[39] Referee: Sivert Amland

Rosenborg v Viking

30 July 2020 11	Rosenborg	3–0	Viking	Trondheim
20:30 CEST (UTC+2)	Helland 40' Hovland 56' Børven 78'	Report		Stadium: Lerkendal Stadion Attendance: 200[39] Referee: Espen Eskås

Viking v Kristiansund

2 August 2020 12	Viking	1–2	Kristiansund	Stavanger
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Berisha 12'	Report	Skarsem 65' Ulvestad 87'	Stadium: Viking Stadion Attendance: 200[39] Referee: Rohit Saggi

Aalesund v Viking

9 August 2020 13	Aalesund	2–2	Viking	Ålesund
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Larsen 6' Castro 80' (pen.)	Report	Berisha 24', 41' (pen.)	Stadium: Color Line Stadion Attendance: 200[39] Referee: Tommy Skjerven

Viking v Stabæk

16 August 2020 14	Viking	3–3	Stabæk	Stavanger
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Berisha 42', 58' (pen.) Bytyqi 53'	Report	Lundal 22' Bohinen 29' Kinoshita 81'	Stadium: Viking Stadion Attendance: 200[39] Referee: Marius Hansen Grøtta

Strømsgodset v Viking

22 August 2020 15	Strømsgodset	0–2	Viking	Drammen
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)		Report	Jack 74' (o.g.) Bell 90+1'	Stadium: Marienlyst Stadion Attendance: 200[39] Referee: Kai Erik Steen

Viking v Molde

30 August 2020 16	Viking	3–2	Molde	Stavanger
20:30 CEST (UTC+2)	Berisha 58' Ibrahimaj 72' Torsteinbø 76'	Report	Andersen 67' Ellingsen  90+2'	Stadium: Viking Stadion Attendance: 200[39] Referee: Rohit Saggi

Kristiansund v Viking

12 September 2020 17	Kristiansund	3–5	Viking	Kristiansund
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Pellegrino 39', 80' Bye 75'	Report	Berisha 4', 61' Bytyqi 69', 72' Ibrahimaj 86'	Stadium: Kristiansund Stadion Attendance: 200[39] Referee: Ola Hobber Nilsen

Viking v Aalesund

20 September 2020 18	Viking	5–2	Aalesund	Stavanger
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Bytyqi 5', 73' Berisha 65' (pen.) Vikstøl 75' Bell 90+2'	Report	Nordli 26' (pen.) Haugen 82' (pen.)	Stadium: Viking Stadion Attendance: 200[39] Referee: Kristoffer Hagenes

Mjøndalen v Viking

27 September 2020 19	Mjøndalen	1–2	Viking	Mjøndalen
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Liseth 4'	Report	Bytyqi 35' Høiland 69'	Stadium: Consto Arena Attendance: 200[39] Referee: Tommy Skjerven

Viking v Strømsgodset

4 October 2020 20	Viking	2–2	Strømsgodset	Stavanger
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Vevatne 76' de Lanlay 90+4'	Report	Salvesen 53' Hove 74'	Stadium: Viking Stadion Attendance: 200[39] Referee: Dag Vidar Hafsås

Viking v Haugesund

27 October 2020 21	Viking	0–1	Haugesund	Stavanger
19:00 CET (UTC+1)		Report	Wadji 24'	Stadium: Viking Stadion Attendance: 600[40] Referee: Espen Eskås
Note: The match was supposed to be played on 25 October, but was postponed due to Veton Berisha testing positive for the coronavirus on 14 October, and the whole team subsequently having to be in a 10 day quarantine.[41]

Stabæk v Viking

1 November 2020 22	Stabæk	1–1	Viking	Bærum
18:00 CET (UTC+1)	Kassi 31'	Report	Bytyqi 41'	Stadium: Nadderud Stadion Attendance: 600[40] Referee: Rohit Saggi

Odd v Viking

4 November 2020 23	Odd	3–0	Viking	Skien
19:00 CET (UTC+1)	Bakenga 18', 51' Kitolano 58'	Report		Stadium: Skagerak Arena Attendance: 600[40] Referee: Sigurd Smehus Kringstad
Note: The match was supposed to be played on 18 October, but was postponed due to Veton Berisha testing positive for the coronavirus on 14 October, and the whole team subsequently having to be in a 10 day quarantine.[41]

Viking v Rosenborg

8 November 2020 24	Viking	3–0	Rosenborg	Stavanger
18:00 CET (UTC+1)	Berisha 9' (pen.) de Lanlay 20' Vevatne 42'	Report		Stadium: Viking Stadion Attendance: 600[40] Referee: Kai Erik Steen

Sarpsborg 08 v Viking

22 November 2020 25	Sarpsborg 08	1–2	Viking	Sarpsborg
18:00 CET (UTC+1)	Utvik 53'	Report	Ibrahimaj 60', 72'	Stadium: Sarpsborg Stadion Attendance: 600[40] Referee: Mohammad Usman Aslam

Viking v Start

28 November 2020 26	Viking	4–1	Start	Stavanger
16:00 CET (UTC+1)	Sebulonsen 20' Friðjónsson 62' Torsteinbø 70', 72'	Report	Kabran 90+1'	Stadium: Viking Stadion Attendance: 600[40] Referee: Dag Vidar Hafsås

Viking v Brann

2 December 2020 27	Viking	2–0	Brann	Stavanger
18:00 CET (UTC+1)	Berisha 17' Ibrahimaj 67'	Report		Stadium: Viking Stadion Attendance: 600[40] Referee: Sigurd Smehus Kringstad

Sandefjord v Viking

6 December 2020 28	Sandefjord	2–2	Viking	Sandefjord
17:00 CET (UTC+1)	Rufo 25', 73'	Report	Berisha 76', 88'	Stadium: Sandefjord Arena Attendance: 0[42] Referee: Mohammad Usman Aslam

Viking v Vålerenga

10 December 2020 29	Viking	2–2	Vålerenga	Stavanger
18:00 CET (UTC+1)	Berisha 82' Bytyqi 88'	Report	Dønnum 45+1', 49'	Stadium: Viking Stadion Attendance: 600[40] Referee: Rohit Saggi

Bodø/Glimt v Viking

19 December 2020 30	Bodø/Glimt	3–0	Viking	Bodø
18:00 CET (UTC+1)	Fet 14' Junker 21', 89'	Report		Stadium: Aspmyra Stadion Attendance: 600[40] Referee: Kristoffer Hagenes

Norwegian Cup

Main article: 2020 Norwegian Football Cup

The 2020 edition of the Norwegian Football Cup was cancelled.^[43]

UEFA Europa League

Main article: 2020–21 UEFA Europa League

Qualifying rounds

Main article: 2020–21 UEFA Europa League qualifying phase and play-off round

Viking v Aberdeen

17 September 2020 Second qualifying round	Viking	0–2	Aberdeen	Stavanger, Norway
20:30 CEST (UTC+2)		Report	McCrorie 44' Hedges 78'	Stadium: Viking Stadion Attendance: 0 Referee: Filip Glova (Slovakia)

Squad statistics

As of match played 19 December 2020^[44][45]

Appearances and goals

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Eliteserien		Norwegian Cup		UEFA Europa League
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	NOR	Iven Austbø	18	0	17	0	0	0	1	0
3	DF	NOR	Viljar Vevatne	28	3	27	3	0	0	1	0
5	DF	ISL	Axel Andrésson	18	0	17	0	0	0	1	0
6	DF	NOR	Runar Hove	3	0	3	0	0	0	0	0
7	MF	KOS	Zymer Bytyqi	30	10	29	10	0	0	1	0
8	MF	NZL	Joe Bell	30	2	29	2	0	0	1	0
9	MF	NOR	Fredrik Torsteinbø	31	4	30	4	0	0	1	0
10	FW	NOR	Tommy Høiland	27	1	26	1	0	0	1	0
11	FW	NOR	Yann-Erik de Lanlay	20	2	19	2	0	0	1	0
13	GK	WAL	Michael Crowe	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
14	FW	NOR	Veton Berisha	29	16	28	16	0	0	1	0
15	MF	NOR	Johnny Furdal	11	0	11	0	0	0	0	0
16	FW	NOR	Even Østensen	18	1	17	1	0	0	1	0
17	FW	NOR	Sebastian Sebulonsen	20	1	20	1	0	0	0	0
18	DF	NOR	Sondre Bjørshol	11	0	10	0	0	0	1	0
19	MF	NOR	Sondre Auklend	16	0	16	0	0	0	0	0
20	FW	KOS	Ylldren Ibrahimaj	30	7	29	7	0	0	1	0
22	GK	NOR	Arild Østbø	13	0	13	0	0	0	0	0
23	DF	NOR	Rolf Daniel Vikstøl	19	1	18	1	0	0	1	0
24	MF	NOR	Kristoffer Løkberg	24	2	24	2	0	0	0	0
26	FW	NOR	Jefferson de Souza	6	0	6	0	0	0	0	0
27	MF	ISL	Samúel Friðjónsson	7	1	7	1	0	0	0	0
34	DF	NOR	Kristoffer Forgaard Paulsen	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
35	DF	NOR	Henrik Heggheim	27	0	26	0	0	0	1	0
Players away from Viking on loan:
21	MF	NOR	Harald Nilsen Tangen	5	0	5	0	0	0	0	0
Players who left Viking during the season:
30	DF	NOR	Adrian Pereira	15	2	15	2	0	0	0	0

Goal scorers

Rank	Pos.	Nat.	Player	Eliteserien	Norwegian Cup	UEFA Europa League	Total
1	FW		Veton Berisha	16	0	0	16
2	MF		Zymer Bytyqi	10	0	0	10
3	FW		Ylldren Ibrahimaj	7	0	0	7
4	MF		Fredrik Torsteinbø	4	0	0	4
5	DF		Viljar Vevatne	3	0	0	3
6	MF		Joe Bell	2	0	0	2
	FW		Yann-Erik de Lanlay	2	0	0	2
	MF		Kristoffer Løkberg	2	0	0	2
	DF		Adrian Pereira	2	0	0	2
10	FW		Tommy Høiland	1	0	0	1
	FW		Even Østensen	1	0	0	1
	FW		Sebastian Sebulonsen	1	0	0	1
	DF		Rolf Daniel Vikstøl	1	0	0	1
	MF		Samúel Friðjónsson	1	0	0	1
			Own goal	1	0	0	1
TOTALS				54	0	0	54