- Brann have won one of their last five games in all competitions, losing four.
- IK Start have won just one of their last five, with one draw and three defeats.
- Brann's attacking players have been relatively blunt, but Brann's Kristian Eriksen has been their sharpest blade, scoring two of their six goals in the last five matches.
Style clash at Brann Stadion
The fixture of IK Start Kristiansand versus SK Brann Bergen in Eliteserien 2026 has been a cagey match in recent years, but the home team are the clear 1.39 favorite for this Sunday's meeting at Brann Stadion. Our preview suggests Start are 7.27 and the draw is 5.22, which suggests that the table does still paint an accurate picture of the teams' relative positions.
Start are 16th with seven points from 12 games, while Brann are 11th with 13 points. Azar Karadas has had a settled season in charge of the visitors since 8 February, 2024, but the results do not reflect well on his team. Start's shape is usually compact and conservative with a low-to-mid defensive block designed to frustrate opponents and spring into life on counter attacks.
Brann are the opposite, usually setting up as either a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation that offers plenty of width, keeps the ball and tries to force the pace in the central third.
Odds are a bit off
Start have been poor travellers in Eliteserien 2026, taking one point from seven away from home and conceding an average of 3.00 goals per game on their travels. But a 2-0 win over Vålerenga at home showed that they can be an effective force on their own patch while defeats by Bodø/Glimt and Fredrikstad suggest they can be exposed.
Brann have had a mixed start to the season with two wins and three losses in five home league games, but they have only conceded seven goals in that run. Their form has been mixed to poor of late, with one win and four defeats in their last five, so it would be wrong to back them at such a short price here.
The odds also look a bit wrong on goals as Over 2.5 is 1.41 and Both Teams to Score is 1.65, which would suggest this game will be wide open and full of goals. We think Brann should have the edge, and our SK Brann Bergen vs IK Start Kristiansand betting tips point to a home win with goals rather than a cagey stalemate. SK Brann Bergen vs IK Start Kristiansand prediction suggests Brann should have the edge, but this has the makings of a home win with goals rather than a cagey stalemate.
