- 1 Brann vs PAOK: tie reopened after the Thessaloniki draw
- 2 Brann are in a much steadier spell
- 3 PAOK head in without their playmaker and with draws piling up
- 4 Conference League Prediction Brann vs PAOK
- 5 First, a word on our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your role
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
Brann vs PAOK: tie reopened after the Thessaloniki draw 
Brann host PAOK on Thursday 27 August at 19:00, Norwegian time, in the second leg of their Conference League play-off. The Bergen club are chasing a spot in the next round, and it is still wide open.
The first leg ended 1-1 at Toumba Stadium in front of 14,667 fans. Eriksen put the Norwegians ahead in the 57th minute before Baba levelled it in the 80th.
For Brann, that was a very handy result. They come home with an away goal in the bag. PAOK, meanwhile, let a real chance slip to take control on their own turf.
The Greek side are in the Conference League after being knocked out of the Europa League by Anderlecht. Their 3-2 defeat in Brussels sent them out the door at the last moment.
Things in Thessaloniki got even messier with Giannis Konstantelias heading to Dortmund this summer. Losing your chief creator in the middle of a European campaign always leaves a mark.
Brann, by contrast, arrive in better shape and with a crowd that will be right behind them. That makes this a tie they can win on home soil.
Both sides know one goal could swing the whole contest. That should make for a tense night, with little room for mistakes.
A place in the Conference League group stage is worth plenty financially too. For Brann and PAOK alike, the stakes go well beyond bragging rights.
The two-leg format also gives the home side in the second match a clear edge. Bergen is where this one will be decided.
Brann are in a much steadier spell 
Across their last ten matches in league and European qualifiers, Brann have six wins, three defeats and one draw. Their average of 2.2 goals per game tells you all you need to know about their attacking threat.
Their latest home outing backed that up with a 3-0 win over HamKam. The Norwegians had 71% of the ball and fired 13 shots on target.
That kind of control at home is Brann’s biggest weapon in this play-off. They can pin teams back for long spells without losing their shape at the back.
Their European run says much the same. Brann got past Apollon in the third qualifying round after losing 1-0 away first. The 4-2 win after extra time in the return leg, for a 4-3 aggregate triumph, showed real character.
Eriksen also proved in Thessaloniki that he can score in a hostile setting. That away goal could end up being massive.
The only concern is how they manage the closing stages, given the Greek equaliser came in the 80th minute. Brann will need to stay switched on if they do not want a rerun of the same story.
Norway’s season is in full flow too, which is another plus. The Bergen players come into this match sharp, not rusty.
The weather and pitch in Bergen will also be a nuisance for a Mediterranean opponent. Details like that often decide ties that are this tight.
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PAOK head in without their playmaker and with draws piling up 
PAOK’s recent record tells its own story: five draws in their last ten games, along with three wins and two defeats. That run suggests a lack of edge more than any real defensive problem.
The Greeks are still getting shots away, averaging 7.9 attempts per match. But the output has only translated into 1.5 goals a game.
A big reason for that drop-off is the exit of Giannis Konstantelias to Dortmund this summer. The attacking midfielder was their main source of creativity, and nobody has really stepped into that role yet.
Their Europa League exit to Anderlecht also took a dent out of confidence. Losing 3-2 in Belgium after a poor first leg leaves a bitter taste heading into another play-off.
Baba did rescue something at Toumba, though, with a late equaliser ten minutes from time. His knack for arriving in the box is still a useful weapon for Thessaloniki.
Still, PAOK now need to win in Bergen, or at least score more than Brann, to go through. That is a tough ask for a side that has been racking up draws for weeks.
Even so, PAOK do have an experienced European squad and know how to see out a result. At this level, they are probably a little more seasoned than their hosts.
The shot volume they produce every week suggests chances will come. The problem is obvious: they need a proper finisher to turn that pressure into goals.
Probable Brann XI: Not announced at the time of publication.
Probable PAOK XI: Not announced at the time of publication.
Conference League Prediction Brann vs PAOK
Our prediction: Brann to win
Brann have six wins in their last ten games and average 2.2 goals per match. The 3-0 win over HamKam, built on 71% possession and 13 shots on target, underlines how dominant they can be at home.
PAOK arrive in Bergen with five draws from their last ten and an attacking return down to 1.5 goals per game. Losing Konstantelias has clearly hurt them in the final third.
Add in Eriksen’s away goal from Thessaloniki, and the advantage is firmly with the Norwegians. Backing Brann to win looks the best play in this return leg.
in your pocket.
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