SK Brann vs Rosenborg preview: Reunion of former bosses at Brann Stadion

Match background
Sunday’s Eliteserien meeting at Brann Stadion pairs two clubs hoping to build momentum in the middle of the Norwegian table. SK Brann sit ninth with 19 points, six behind fourth-placed Lillestrom and seven clear of the relegation zone. Rosenborg are 10th but have been transformed by a new manager and arrive on a three-game competitive winning run, sitting six points above the relegation playoff spot.

Brann come into the match after a 3-1 win over Universitatea Cluj in the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round, a result that set up a meeting with Apollon of Cyprus on August 5. The domestic picture is less smooth: their last Eliteserien outing was a 3-2 defeat to 10-man Valerenga, after Brann trailed 3-0 at half-time.

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Match facts at a glance

| Match | SK Brann vs Rosenborg, Norwegian Eliteserien |
| Venue | Brann Stadion, Bergen |
| Setting | Sunday league round, with Brann also preparing for Conference League duty |
| Managers | Eirik Horneland (Brann) vs Freyr Alexandersson (Rosenborg) |
| Source trail | Sports Mole preview by Anthony Nolan |

A reunion of managers
The dugout storyline is unusually personal. Eirik Horneland returned to Brann in early July after leaving French club Saint-Etienne in January by mutual consent. He previously coached Brann between 2021 and 2024. His opposite number, Freyr Alexandersson, was appointed Rosenborg boss on June 17 after leaving Brann. Horneland has three wins, one draw and one defeat in five competitive games since his return. Alexandersson has won all three competitive fixtures with Rosenborg without conceding a goal.

Brann’s defensive problem
Horneland started his latest league spell with back-to-back wins over Start and Molde, but the loss to Valerenga exposed a longer-running issue. Brann have now gone 13 matches without a clean sheet in all competitions. The midweek European win showed their attacking quality, yet the recurring defensive mistakes are a concern going into a fixture against an in-form Rosenborg attack. The Conference League tie with Apollon may also be in the back of the manager’s mind when he chooses his lineup.

Rosenborg’s strong start under Alexandersson
Alexandersson opened with a 2-1 friendly win over Molde on July 5, then beat Kristiansund 3-0 in his first league match. A 5-0 friendly defeat to Manchester United on July 24 was sandwiched between a 3-0 win over Start and a 4-0 victory over Fredrikstad last time out. Rosenborg are yet to concede in the league under their new manager and have kept three consecutive clean sheets in competitive matches, making them dangerous visitors.

Team news: Brann
Brann are short in defence this weekend. Left-back Jonas Torsvik is out with an ankle issue, and centre-back Nana Boakye is sidelined for the rest of the season with a knee injury. Fredrik Knudsen and Thore Pedersen are expected to start at the heart of the backline, with Denzel De Roeve and Joachim Soltvedt at full-back. Sakarias Opsahl is recovering from a foot injury, so Kristian Eriksen, Niklas Wassberg and Felix Myhre should operate in midfield.

Team news: Rosenborg
Rosenborg will be without striker Dino Islamovic because of a calf injury. Amin Chiakha is expected to lead the attack, with David Duris and Emil Konradsen Ceide supporting him. Leopold Wahlstedt is the likely goalkeeper, shielded by a back four of Jonas Svensson, Mikkel Konradsen Ceide, Tomas Nemcik and Adrian Pereira.

Projected lineups
SK Brann possible starting lineup: Dyngeland; De Roeve, Knudsen, Pedersen, Soltvedt; Eriksen, Wassberg, Myhre; Mathisen, Holm, Castro.

Rosenborg possible starting lineup: Wahlstedt; Svensson, M K Ceide, Nemcik, Pereira; Bomholt, Selnaes, Fossum; Duris, Chiakha, E K Ceide.

These are projections based on Sports Mole’s team news, not official team sheets. Confirmed lineups are usually announced closer to kickoff.

Prediction and what to watch
The main tactical question is whether Brann can end their 13-match run without a clean sheet against a Rosenborg side yet to concede in the league under Alexandersson. Sports Mole’s analysis leans toward the visitors, pointing to Rosenborg’s recent results and defensive solidity. Brann’s home crowd and the emotional element of Horneland facing his former club could keep the match competitive, but form and structure appear to favour Rosenborg. Followers of both sides should check official club channels for confirmation of the starting XIs before kickoff.

Source: https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/sk-brann/preview/brann-vs-rosenborg-prediction-team-news-lineups_602253.html

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