Norwegian outfit SK Brann host Scottish Premiership side Rangers in a crucial Europa League clash on Thursday evening.
Brann vs Rangers – Match Preview and Team News
- Date: 23rd October, Thursday.
- Kick-off: 5:45pm BST.
- Venue: Brann Stadion, Bergen.
Brann Team News
Brann suffered a major blow ahead of this fixture as top scorer Sævar Atli Magnússon has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after picking up a knee injury. The forward had netted five goals this campaign and scored the winner in their 1-0 victory over FC Utrecht on matchday two.
Manager Freyr Alexandersson also faces concerns over midfielder Niklas Castro, who was withdrawn injured during Brann’s impressive 4-1 domestic win against Haugesund last weekend. The Norwegian side will definitely be without Niklas Jensen Wassberg (knee), Jonas Torsvik (knock), Felix Horn Myhre (ankle) and Sakarias Opsahl (foot).
In Magnússon’s absence, Bård Finne is expected to lead the line after scoring twice against Haugesund. Eggert Aron Gudmundsson, who also bagged a brace in that victory, will be crucial in providing an attacking threat from midfield.
Rangers Team News
Danny Rohl will take charge of his first match as Rangers head coach following his appointment on Monday. The 36-year-old German, who previously managed Sheffield Wednesday, has been tasked with rescuing Rangers’ faltering season after Russell Martin was sacked on 5 October.
Rohl faces selection headaches with several key players unavailable. Dujon Sterling (Achilles) is out until early January, while Rabbi Matondo remains sidelined with a knee injury. Mohamed Diomande’s availability remains uncertain after he missed the draw with Dundee United.
Speaking at his unveiling, Rohl declared: “We want to win. The expectations are immense, and I relish this challenge because I hold high standards for myself and my team”. The new boss emphasised the need to “speed up our game” and acknowledged that “at first you have to win games, then we can speak about playing attractive football”.
Form
Brann
Brann have hit excellent form domestically, sitting third in the Norwegian Eliteserien with 49 points from 24 matches. The Bergen club have won 15, drawn four and lost only five league fixtures this season. Their home record is particularly impressive, with nine victories from 12 matches at Brann Stadion. In Europe, Brann began with a narrow 2-1 defeat at Lille before bouncing back with a vital 1-0 home win over FC Utrecht.
Rangers
Rangers have endured a nightmare start to the season under former boss Russell Martin. The Gers have won just one of their opening eight Scottish Premiership matches, drawing six and losing one to sit sixth in the table, 13 points behind leaders Hearts.
Their European campaign has been even more disastrous. Rangers lost 1-0 at home to Genk on matchday one, with former Celtic striker Hyeon-Gyu Oh scoring the winner against ten men after Mohamed Diomande’s red card. They then suffered a 2-1 defeat at Sturm Graz, with defensive frailties costing them dearly.
Away from home, Rangers have struggled significantly, managing just one victory on their travels this season. The club also failed to qualify for the Champions League after a humiliating 9-1 aggregate defeat to Club Brugge.
Predicted Lineups
Brann: Dyngeland; Roeve, Knudsen, Helland, Soltvedt; Kornvig, Sorensen, Gudmundsson, Holm; Mathisen, Finne.
Rangers: Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Cornelius, Meghoma; Rothwell, Raskin; Antman, Aasgaard, Gassama; Miovski.
How to Watch Brann vs Rangers?
UK fans can watch the game live on TNT Sports 2 with coverage starting from 5:45pm. The match is also available via discovery+ on Amazon Prime Video.
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