Brann 0-1 Apollon result, stats and report

Brann came from behind in their own way, surviving a frantic PAOK comeback to win 3-2 in the UEFA Europa Conference League and progress on the night. This was not pretty. It was competitive, scrappy, and occasionally chaotic. Which, if you ask me, is exactly what it needed to be.

Brann dominated in attack with 21 shots to Sandefjord's 13, hit the woodwork once, and still could not find a way through in a frustrating Norwegian Eliteserien goalless draw. Sandefjord's goalkeeper and defence held firm despite a side desperately short of form and fitness.

Lillestrøm scored twice inside the first 22 minutes and held on to win 2-1 at Brann, despite the home side dominating possession, shots, and everything except the scoreboard. Bård Finne pulled one back in the 89th minute but it was too little, too late.

PAOK dominated possession and territory for large portions of this Conference League opener but had to settle for a draw after Brann's clinical counter-punch was cancelled out by a headed equaliser from a substitute. The statistics paint a picture of a match PAOK should have won.

Brann were ruthless at home on Sunday, putting three past a HamKam side reduced to ten men before half time. A VAR red card, 31 shots, and a 90th-minute finish made this one to remember.

Bottom-placed Start host sixth-placed Brann on Sunday in a match that could define the final shape of the Eliteserien table, with the hosts carrying the worst defensive record in the division and Brann arriving unbeaten in their last three away fixtures.

Brann host Lillestrøm on Saturday sitting sixth in the Eliteserien, carrying four injury absentees and a home record that offers their own fans precious little comfort. Lillestrøm arrive in poor away form but with enough quality to punish a side that cannot keep a clean sheet.

Sandefjord sit thirteenth in the Eliteserien table and are running out of runway, while Brann carry genuine momentum and a healthy goal tally into a fixture that could prove decisive for both clubs' ambitions.