High expectations meet Rosenborg anno 2005. Monday, players full of revenge kicks off this year's season with a friendly against Sparta Praha.


THE SCENE: Estadio Municipal San Fernando de Maspalomas in San Bartolomé de Tirajana is the arena for the very first RBK match of 2005.

The first mandatory game comes at a record early date this year. As soon as Feb 12th, Esbjerg visits Lerkendal to fight for new Royal League points. As a result, the preparation time for the new season is also the shortest and most hectic we have seen.

Friday and Saturday, the whole Rosenborg family - players, coaches and support crew, plus wives, sweethearts and kids; numbering over 120 in all - left for Gran Canary, where they will stay the next two weeks. In addition to training sessions on grass, there will be two matches in the Torneo Internacional de Fútbol de Maspalomas, or the Maspalomas Tourmament as we call it.

facts

AC Sparta Praha Fotbal Founded: 16.11.1893 Hometown: Prague, Czech Republic Homeground: Toyota Arena Capacity: 18,761 Colours: Burgundian shirt and shorts Honours: 29 league- and 24 cup golds Star player: Karel Poborsky www.sparta.cz

Sunday, the team had a low-tempo traning, and monday evening the 2005 season starts. The opponent is Sparta Praha, who last season was defeated by the surprise team Banik Ostrava in the Chzech Gambrinus league. They didn't fare well in the Champions League either. Karel Poborsky & Co held Manchester United to 0-0 at home, but the other five matches ended with losses - some of them nasty ones. Hence, the Chzech team ended at the very bottom of group D. In the domestic league Sparta has done better, and currently has a 9-point lead on Teplice.

On another note, Per Joar Hansen will have to manage without several key players against Sparta. Miika Koppinen hurt his knee during Friday's training in the Abra hall, and needs an operation, while Ørjan Berg (knee), Vidar Riseth (achilles) and Robbie Russell (knee) all are out from their pre-christmas operations. Frode Johnsen is not 100 % well either, and will start at the bench.

This means among other things that a recovered Christer Basma plays middle defender after his October operation, while Mikael Dorsin has to play right back once again. In the attack line, Alexander Ødegaard plays a right wing in his RBK debut.

The largest surprise, however, we find in the midfield. Perry has chosen to place Jan Gunnar Solli - who is yet again picked for the National team - on the bench. In his stead, Alexander Tettey - who might play for Skeid the coming season - will appear from the start.

"The reason is that we have decided to let both Alex and Per Ciljan (Skjelbred) play down here, but not at the same time. Hence, Roar (Strand) starts tomorrow and Jan Gunnar on Tuesday," Per Joar Hansen writes in an SMS to rbkweb.com.

Tettey, the 18-year old, played middle defender against Esbjerg before Christmas, but originally he is a midfielder. It will be exciting to watch the youngster in his natural element against Sparta!

Both the Sparta game (kickoff 20.30 CET) and Tuesday's match against Feyenoord (18.30 CET) are showed by the channel Viasat Sport 1.

Rosenborg's team against Sparta: