Brann — AEK Larnaca : Match Preview and Prediction for August 21,2025

Brann’s Productive Week

The Norwegian league runners-up have concluded a highly successful week, firmly establishing their presence in European competitions for the upcoming autumn. This was achieved by triumphing over Swedish club Häcken in a captivating two-round encounter. Despite a 0-1 home defeat to Häcken, Brann’s earlier 2-0 away win in Sweden proved decisive, propelling them into the ultimate qualification stage for the Europa League, where they now face Cypriot giants AEK.

Home vs Away Performance

Following their European success, Brann went on to claim a 2-1 league victory against the Tromsø-based club. They showcased remarkable resilience, staging a second-half comeback from a 0-1 deficit to secure a 2-1 win. Intriguingly, Freyr Alexandersson’s side frequently exhibits superior performance in away fixtures compared to their home games. This pattern has been a notable feature of their current European journey, evidenced by a substantial 1-4 home defeat to Salzburg and a 0-1 loss to Häcken within the past fortnight. Furthermore, the home side will be without the services of the long-term injured players Opsahl and Thorsvik for this encounter against AEK Larnaca.

AEK Larnaca’s European Experience

Hailing from Cyprus, AEK Larnaca emerges as a considerably more seasoned participant in European competitions when juxtaposed with Brann, particularly over the course of recent seasons. Under the guidance of Imanol Idiakez, this highly cohesive and possession-oriented squad (benefiting from Spanish leadership, making Spanish coaching staff a regular feature) has already successfully navigated three qualification stages, remarkably, even before the official commencement of the Cypriot league season. The Cypriots have dispatched formidable opponents, including Serbian giants Partizan (with results of 1-0 and 2-2 after extra time), last season’s UEFA Conference League quarter-finalists Slovenian Celje (2-1, 1-1), and Polish powerhouse Legia (4-1, 1-2). Key offensive players such as Angielski, Chacon, and Pons consistently demonstrate their prowess in the final third, proving invaluable assets to the club.