Brann vs Red Bull Salzburg Prediction: Visitors to gain the advantage

Following their participation in the Fifa Club World Cup, Red Bull Salzburg get their 2025/26 campaign underway when they travel to Brann Stadion to face SK Brann for the first leg of their Uefa Champions League second-round qualifier on Wednesday (18:00 BST). This is a first-ever meeting between the two clubs, with Brann having last played at this level 17 years ago.

Read on for my Brann vs Red Bull Salzburg predictions, supported by the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Brann's Japhet Sery Larsen was suspended at the weekend and Eivind Fauske Helland was then sent off against KFUM on Saturday. Both are available for this fixture, but Helland will be out of action for their next league match against Sarpsborg.

Niklas Castro (ankle), Sakarias Opsahl (foot), Jonas Torsvik (groin) and Fredrik Knudsen (knee) are all currently in the treatment room for the Norwegian outfit.

Saevar Magnusson scored on his first appearance for Brann earlier this month, even though he is yet to make his full debut for the club, but that could change this midweek as boss Freyr Alexandersson may contemplate making alterations to the side that was defeated in Oslo last time out.

Red Bull Salzburg will be without the services of Moussa Kounfolo Yeo, Karim Konate and Takumu Kawamura due to their respective injury issues for the trip to Bergen, while there are still no signs of fresh movement on the transfer front.

Goalkeeper Alexander Schlager and Mads Bidstrup have both returned from their own issues, with both featuring in the friendly against Derby County last week.

Brann vs Red Bull Salzburg Odds

Brann have won their last four home games in all competitions and they are 2/1 to take the advantage in this first leg.

RB Salzburg have drawn six of their past 11 UCL qualifiers and the stalemate is on offer at 12/5. The Red Bulls have won five of their previous six, though, and they are 11/10 (which has an implied probability of 47.6%) to win this clash.

There have been goals at both ends in four of Brann's latest seven appearances and BTTS is marketed at 8/15.

Red Bull Salzburg to win @ 11/10

Given their extensive experience at this level in recent years, I think RB Salzburg will be able to take control of this tie in the away leg. They may have failed to score in the last two CWC fixtures but the Red Bulls will be hoping to bounce back as the new season officially begins.

They have won five of their last six UCL qualifiers heading into this clash, while they have also won three of their four games against Norwegian opposition. The Austrian side have scored at least two goals in their previous four away trips in Champions League qualifiers, posting three wins in that time.

Salzburg may also be presented with an opportunity as Brann failed to score for the first time in four weeks last time out, but given they have prevailed in their past four home games, they are sure to be competitive, especially as this is their first appearance in the UCL for 17 years.

There may be some fatigue on display from the visitors but they have the resources to rotate. It may not be plain sailing but I predict their quality will shine through and they will take the lead in the tie.

Today's Football Fixtures

Both teams to score @ 8/15

With this being a massive occasion for Brann on home soil, I think they will have their part to play in this first leg and I do think BTTS is a sensible selection. It has been a successful bet in four of the hosts' last seven matches in all competitions and I do see this trend continuing against RB Salzburg.

For the visitors, BTTS has struck in eight of their past 11 outings in UCL qualifiers, including five of their last six.  There have also been goals at both ends in their two pre-season friendlies with Qarabag and Derby.

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