UEL | Brann 0-1 Bologna: Castro secures precious first leg victory

It took nine minutes to break the deadlock, as Federico Bernardeschi intercepted a wayward clearance and Niccolò Cambiaghi’s disguised pass sent Santiago Castro down the left for a precise angled drive.

Ingason had penalty appeals for a cross charged down by Martin Vitik, but his arm was under his body as he went sliding in.

Lukasz Skorupski made a desperate double save on a corner, getting a hand to the Urik Mathisen glancing header and then throwing himself in the way of a Jon Dagur Thorsteinssen tap-in.

Riccardo Orsolini came on at half-time and made an immediate impact, stinging the goalkeeper’s gloves at the near post after a deflected Nikola Moro cross.

Cambiaghi and Orsolini had efforts charged down, while another trademark Orsolini curler was palmed away by Mathias Dyngeland.

Orsolini also shimmied away from two defenders to fire just past the far top corner, while Thijs Dallinga’s flick on a Juan Miranda cross looped up, forcing a tricky fingertip save under the crossbar.

Brann 0-1 Bologna

Castro 9 (Bo)

19-02-2026 17:45 Knockout phase play-offs Brann Stadion

Brann

Bologna 0 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

9'

Santiago Castro (Assist: Nicolò Cambiaghi)     14' Federico Bernardeschi Nana Kwame Boakye

30'    

Match statistic

65 Possession % 35 4 Total shots 13 2 Shots on target 5 2 Shots off target 4 0 Blocked shots 4 7 Corners 4 4 Offsides 1 14 Fouls 20 Brann Bologna

Starting lineups

1 Mathias Dyngeland Goalkeeper 21 Denzel De Roeve Defender 3 Fredrik Pallesen Knudsen Defender 17 Joachim Soltvedt Defender 79' 4 Nana Kwame Boakye Defender 8 Felix Horn Myhre Midfielder 18 Jacob Lungi Sörensen Midfielder 16

Jón Dagur Thorsteinsson Attacker 79' 10 Kristall Máni Ingason Attacker 69' 29 Noah Jean Holm Attacker 14 Ulrik Mathisen Attacker 79' 1

Lukasz Skorupski Goalkeeper 26

Jhon Lucumí Defender 33

Juan Miranda Defender 41

Martin Vitik Defender 20 Nadir Zortea Defender 19 Lewis Ferguson Midfielder 75' 6

Nikola Moro Midfielder 75' 8

Remo Freuler Midfielder 10

Federico Bernardeschi Attacker 46' 28

Nicolò Cambiaghi Attacker 87' 9

Santiago Castro Attacker

46'

Substitutes

24 Mathias Engevik Klausen Goalkeeper 43 Rasmus Holten Defender 41 Lars Remmem Midfielder 27 Mads Sande Attacker 40 Jesper Nerhus Eikrem Midfielder 12 Simen Vidtun Nilsen Goalkeeper 23 Thore Pedersen Defender 69' 11 Bard Finne Attacker 79' 32 Markus Haaland Attacker 79' 20 Vetle Dragsnes Defender 79' 16 Nicolò Casale Defender 13 Federico Ravaglia Goalkeeper 21

Jens Odgaard Attacker João Mário Defender 30 Benja Domínguez Attacker 14 Torbjørn Heggem Defender 25 Massimo Pessina Goalkeeper 7

Riccardo Orsolini Attacker 46' 24

Thijs Dallinga Attacker 46' 4 Tommaso Pobega Midfielder 75'

Simon Sohm Midfielder 75' 11

Jonathan Rowe Midfielder

87'