Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League qualifying match.
Red Bull Salzburg endured a frustrating campaign in the group stage of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League, while SK Brann have not featured in any European qualifying stage since the 2019/20 UEFA Europa League. The outcome of this tie appears relatively straightforward, but the key question is whether SK Brann can make their presence felt on home turf.
SK Brann
Norway secured a second Champions League spot—albeit in the second qualifying round—due solely to Bodø/Glimt’s success in last season’s UEFA Europa League. No club has participated in the Champions League since 2008, and in the previous campaign, SK Brann’s attempt to qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League was cut short in the play-off round by FC Astana.
Red Bull Salzburg
During the 2024/25 Champions League group stage, Red Bull Salzburg collected only three points and finished 34th out of the 36 participating teams. One of the club’s main challenges this summer has been the lack of recovery time. The squad took part in the newly formatted FIFA Club World Cup, where they failed to advance beyond the group stage. This fixture will be their third outing in just nine days, having already played friendlies against Qarabağ (2:1 win) and Derby County (1:2) on the previous Tuesday and Friday, respectively.
SK Brann vs Red Bull Salzburg Prediction
Meanwhile, SK Brann compete in the Norwegian top division, which follows a spring-to-autumn calendar. Despite no summer break, their schedule has remained light, with just one fixture per week. This consistent rhythm could play a decisive role: SK Brann are unlikely to be beaten on home soil.
