Brann will look to make home advantage count this time when they welcome AEK Larnaca to Brann Stadion this Thursday, with the aims of taking early advantage in this Europa League qualifiers playoff tie.
Read our Brann vs AEK Larnaca predictions and preview below, and do not forget to check out our dedicated Europa League page for more coverage.
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Brann vs AEK Larnaca predictions: Can the Bergen side turn fortress?
Key stats:
- Brann have both scored and conceded in six of their last nine matches.
- Larnaca's last five games in UEFA club competition qualifiers have witnessed goals at both ends.
- The visitors have not won their last three away games on the continental front.
Correct score prediction: Brann 2-1 AEK Larnaca
This clash is one between a host struggling on their turf in recent times and the visitors who have also faltered on the road on the continental front. However, Brann, buoyed by home advantage, should just nick this, given AEK have lost two of their three European travels this season, though the Cypriots should find the back of the net as they have done in previous such away games. Indeed, AEK’s two losses on the road in these qualifiers have ended in 2-1, so we expect the same on Thursday.
Pre-match odds and win probability: Norwegians have the edge
- HOME: 3/4 (1.75) – 57.1%
- DRAW: 13/5 (3.60) – 27.8%
- AWAY: 18/5 (4.60) – 21.7%
*Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes; subject to change.
Brann have been handed an implied win probability of 57.1% and odds of 3/4 (1.75), suggesting they are favourites heading into this encounter, given the hosts will aim to take early advantage of the tie backed by the crowd in Brann Stadion.
Larnaca’s 21.7% win probability reveals they are the underdogs coming into this one, with their poor away record in this Europa League qualifying campaign being a testament to this.
There is high value in our hot tip of “both teams to score and over 2.5 goals” priced at 29/20 (2.45), with a 40.8% probability of materialising, so it should be worth going for.
Most recent head-to-head: First time meeting
Given both teams play in separate leagues, it is no surprise that Thursday’s first-leg encounter will be the first time the two sides meet on any front.
Brann preview: Atonement for De Roeve?
Brann secured a Champions League berth after finishing second in the Norwegian top flight in 2024 but were eliminated by Salzburg in the second qualifying round, forcing them into the Europa pathway. Freyr Alexandersson’s men defeated Hacken 2-1 on aggregate in the previous round and will enter this encounter buoyed by their 2-1 comeback win over Tromso over the weekend.
Brann will go into this contest without Jonas Torsvik, Niklas Jensen Wassberg and Sakarias Opsahl, all sidelined with injuries.
Defender Denzel De Roeve might have atoned for his own goal in the previous round after coming off the bench to score the decisive winner against Tromso.
Predicted lineup: Dyngeland (GK), De Roeve, Pedersen, Larsen, Soltvedt, Myhre, Sorensen, Kornvig, Mathisen, Magnusson & Gudmundsson
Norway Eliteserien 11/05/25
D
Rosenborg
0
SK Brann
0
Norway Cup 07/05/25
L
Bryne
2
SK Brann
1
Norway Eliteserien 03/05/25
W
Valerenga
2
SK Brann
4
Norway Eliteserien 27/04/25
W
Bryne
2
SK Brann
3
Norway Cup 24/04/25
W
Bjarg
0
SK Brann
2
AEK Larnaca preview: Gnali suspended
AEK have enough time to prepare for this clash, with the Cypriot top flight not yet started. The most recent encounter was a 2-1 defeat at Legia Warsaw in the previous round of their Europa qualifiers, in an encounter where left back Jeremie Gnali was sent off.
The encounter also came with more baggage, with forward Djordje Ivanovic forced off, making his availability for this one uncertain.
Predicted lineup: Alomerovic (GK), Ekpolo, Milicevic, Roberge, Garcia, Ledes, Miramon, Pons, Ivanovic, Angelski & Chacon
Cyprus Division 1 12/05/25
W
Apollon Limassol
0
AEK Larnaca
3
Cyprus Cup 07/05/25
W
Omonia Nicosia
1
AEK Larnaca
2
Cyprus Division 1 04/05/25
W
Apoel Nicosia
0
AEK Larnaca
3
Cyprus Cup 30/04/25
D
Omonia Nicosia
0
AEK Larnaca
0
Cyprus Division 1 27/04/25
L
Aris Limassol
1
AEK Larnaca
0
Player to watch: Saevar Atli Magnusson
Saevar Magnusson has scored three goals in his last three outings. The Norwegian forward netted a brace in Brann’s 2-0 win away to Hacken in the previous Europa League qualifying round and will be confident heading into Thursday’s clash, having also found the net against Tromso at the weekend.