SK Brann are ready for a crucial European Cup match against PAOK with a near-full squad after a press conference at Stadion. Bergensavisen reported on Wednesday that Noah Holm has been declared fit after an injury against Fyllingen, and that Kristall Ingason and Niklas Castro are back from suspension. The team currently sits sixth in the Eliteserien with 25 points from 17 games.
Who is back from injury and suspension?
Noah Holm is back after a tackle to his foot in the match against Fyllingen last weekend. Manager Eirik Horneland gave a clear answer when a Greek journalist asked if Holm was ready. "100 prosent, svarer Horneland når en gresk journalist spør om Holm er tilbake." Holm was not with the team in Greece because he was at the maternity ward, but is now fit for the match. Kristall Ingason, the team's top scorer with five goals this season, and Niklas Castro are also available after serving yellow-card suspensions.
Ulrik Mathisen is confirmed ready to contribute, but to a limited extent. He has been struggling with injuries recently and felt a stinging in his foot shortly after the start of the match against Cluj. Mathisen says it takes a few weeks for the injury to heal, and he has only trained two football sessions with the ball. It is not currently a question of him playing a full match, but he might get a small role against PAOK.
Who is missing from Brann's injury list?
Several players are out injured and not in the squad for this important European Cup task. Sævar Magnusson, Nana Boakye, Jonas Torsvik and Sakarias Opsahl are all injured and will not be available. Despite these absences, manager Horneland has almost a full squad at his disposal, providing options for tactical choices. You can follow player status updates on our injuries page.
What is expected of the crowd and the stadium?
The match against PAOK on Thursday is nearly sold out. Only a few tickets remain in the VIP section, and nearly 16,000 seats on Store Stå are set up and expected to be filled. The capacity for European matches is somewhat lower than in the Eliteserien because standing places are not allowed. Horneland hopes supporters come early to create an atmosphere for a match that will demand a lot from the players.
Brann enter this European match with a solid attack that has scored 36 goals in 17 league games. The defence has conceded 27, giving a goal difference of +9. The team is 16 points behind league leaders Bodø/Glimt. Midfielder Joachim Soltvedt expressed joy at having an important partner back. "Han er kanskje den viktigste spilleren vår til å få rytme fremover i banen, sier han." After the PAOK match, an important home fixture against Lillestrøm awaits on September 5th, which you can see on our fixtures page. With six wins in their last ten league matches, Brann have found good form.
