- SK Brann Bergen have won 4 of their last 5 matches without a draw (W4, L1) and have a 4-game winning streak in progress.
- Valerenga IF Oslo have won 2, drawn 1 and lost 2 of their last 5 matches.
- SK Brann Bergen have won 5 of the last 6 head-to-head meetings between the two clubs.
Brann Bergen have been the dominant force in this fixture in recent years and they will be the team to beat when they travel to the capital to face Valerenga IF Oslo in one of Norway’s most classic rivalries on Saturday. The Bergen club have won 5 of the last 6 meetings between the sides and beat Valerenga IF Oslo 2-1 at home in a 2025 friendly just five weeks ago. The hosts have won just one of the last three home meetings between the sides, with Brann winning twice as the visitors. Freyr Alexandersson took over as Brann coach in January 2025 and has instilled a high-energy, front-foot style of play that has seen the club make a fast start to this campaign. They currently top the Eliteserien 2025 table with 12 points from five games, while Valerenga IF Oslo are 7th with seven points from their first five matches.
Rising star Aune Selland Heggeboe has been the talisman for Brann this term with four goals in his last five Eliteserien appearances. He has helped his side to a 12-goal haul in that period and will be a handful for the home defence again this weekend. Valerenga have some talent of their own, however, and midfielder Osame Sahraoui is the best creative player on the pitch when he plays. He is always looking to get on the ball and make things happen, whether that be by threading a pass through the middle or driving at the defence on the counter. Geir Bakke has been Valerenga’s coach since July 2023 and likes his side to be structured and disciplined in possession. They will look to control the pace of the game and dominate the midfield, but Brann are a direct side that like to press high up the field and get on the break as quickly as possible.
Valerenga are a possession side and have to be patient to get their attacks together, but Brann’s style of play could cause them to press and make mistakes. The visitors will try to get bodies behind the ball and hit them on the break, which should make for an intriguing tactical battle between control and chaos. Brann have won one and lost one of their two away games in the Eliteserien this term, averaging 1.00 goals for and 2.00 goals against, while Valerenga have won one and lost one at home, averaging 1.50 goals for and 1.50 against. Valerenga bounced back from consecutive defeats to Fredrikstad (2-0 away) and Rosenborg (0-2 at home) by beating Kristiansund BK 2-0 away last weekend, but Brann’s form and the head-to-head record suggests the visitors are the most likely to take the points. Brann are the slight favourites with the bookmakers, but we feel the odds are too short for them to come away with three points. The odds on the over 2.5 goals market are more attractive, however, and that looks the best way to make money from this clash.
