Brann secured a 2-1 home victory against Lillestrøm in the Eliteserien thanks to two first-half goals. The match, played at Brann Stadion, marked Lillestrøm's first league win over the Bergen club in ten years.
Brann's defenders made an early impact on the game. Vetle Dragsnes opened the scoring in just the sixth minute. Only sixteen minutes later, in the 22nd, Fredrik Gulbrandsen doubled the lead to 2-0. Lillestrøm pulled one back late through Bård Finne in the 89th minute, but it wasn't enough.
Coach Eirik Horneland pointed to the early concessions as decisive for the match's development. "De to feilene preger kampen vår, for det setter litt mer stress i et lag som jobber med å finne en rytme," Horneland told Aftenposten. He added that such a rhythm did not come naturally to the team this time. This was a match from the 2024 season, but Brann's current situation in 2026 is different. The team sits seventh in the standings with 26 points from 19 games, claiming a +8 goal difference from 37 scored and 29 conceded.
The 2024 result contrasts with the team's latest performances. Brann actually lost the most recent meeting between the sides, 1-2 at home on September 5th, 2026. Their last league win was over two weeks ago. The last three matches have yielded two losses and one draw. This poor form comes at a time when the squad is dealing with absences. Jonas Torsvik, Sakarias Opsahl, and Neraysho Kasanwirjo are currently sidelined with injury, affecting the manager's options.
Following the defeat to Lillestrøm, Brann must shake off the loss quickly. The next challenge is an away fixture against Start on September 13th. Start sits at the bottom of the table, offering Brann a chance to reverse the trend. A win there is important to keep pace at the top, where Brann currently trails leaders Bodø/Glimt by 21 points.
Brann's goalkeeper Fredrik Gulbrandsen, who scored the second goal in the 2024 match, has since established himself as a key figure. Yaw Amankwah commented on Gulbrandsen's experience after the game, saying, "Dette er årevis med erfaring, dette er klokskap. Her vet han at det kan oppstå noe." Dragsnes, who scored the opener, signed for Brann in the summer of 2025 after a spell at Royal Charleroi SC. The team travels to Kristiansand to face Start on Saturday.
