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Bodo won both head-to-head championship meetings, but Cup final is a whole different thing

Bodo are finally complete and as it seems, totally ready for a new clash with Arendal. Like in the first two head-to-head games, the smallest things will be crucial, with defenses and goal keepers playing the key roles. Both defenses are at a very high level at the moment and we are in for another tough game

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Bodo and Arendal have been waiting for this day for almost two months now, both hoping to record a historical achievement by clinching the Cup title. It would be even greater success for Bodo since OIF already had the chance of winning the championship, they played European competitions and reached Cup semi finals a few years ago. Motivation will run high on both teams, with both of them having the opportunity to record a historical success.

- We're finally ready and look forward to the final - Borge Lund said.

Bodo and OIF met twice this season, which gives us an idea of what this game should be like. Bodo won both of those previous games, but after a great battle on the floor. 50 and 44 goals were scored, defenses played key roles, as well as goal keepers, who seems to be in great shape ahead of this game.

Out of the total of 3 defeats OIF recorded this season, two were against Bodo, who are now only 2 points down in the table. They struggled with a few injuries lately and haven't been able to count on Aga for a while now. Oskarsen and Grimstad are to return after missing a few games and Ringdal will be fit and ready after struggling with a minor ankle injury. Aziz will have a bit of help that will do him well despite his great performances lately. Nielsen got back to score 9 goals against Drammen after coming down with a flue. He turned out to be one of the best back players of the league this season.

- We've done well against them so far, but this will be a whole different thing. It is the Cup semifinal after all - Nielsen said.

After losing to Bodo two weeks ago, OIF got back to winning. Kurtovic managed to help his team to bounce back from it to destroy Fyllingen and Halden. Bodo definitely have the upper hand when it comes to psychological aspect of the game, but OIF will be looking to get back at them for the two defeats for sure.

- They're the favorite, that's quite clear since they beat us twice this season. As for us, the important things is that communicate on the floor and that everyone sticks to the game plan. We'll try and destroy their game and work on the defense becoming the offense - coach Kurtovic said.

This will be a great fight between Medhus and Christensen, two top goalkeepers in the Norwegian league at the moment. Medhus recently said the fact Christensen is the best goal keeper only makes his motivation run higher.

Kopp is still out at OIF, just like Svinningsen and Hrafnsson, who was causing quite a lot of problems for Bodo in the first game.

As for the officials, Togstad and Christiansen were appointed for this game. They officiated the first head-to-head match this season to finish with 7 two-minute suspensions, but they were fair and didn't try and help either team.

OIF will definitely have a lot of fans supporting them today, his fan base is well known for being loud and numerous, even at away games, which is not that usual when it comes to handball. Since this is the final game, some one hundred of their loudest fans are to be expected in the stands.