Brann 0-1 Bologna Player Ratings: Santiago Castro's Sole Strike Helps Bologna Secure a Narrow Away Victory

A fiercely contested Europa League knockout match saw Bologna snatch a vital 1-0 away victory against Brann. The game, held at the lively Brann Stadion, was decided by a solitary early goal. It was a classic case of clinical finishing versus fruitless pressure.

The decisive moment arrived just nine minutes into the contest. Santiago Castro found the back of the net with a sharp finish. The crucial assist was provided by the outstanding Nicolo Cambiaghi, who was a menace all evening. This early blow set the tone for the rest of the match, forcing the home side to chase the game.

Brann responded with vigor, dominating possession and creating several opportunities to level the score. However, a combination of resilient defending and some key saves from Bologna's goalkeeper, Lukasz Skorupski, kept them at bay. What stood out to us was Brann's inability to convert their dominance into a tangible result, a frustration that was visible on the players' faces as the match wore on. The Italian side, on the other hand, executed their game plan to perfection, defending their narrow lead with discipline and organization, setting up a tantalizing second leg. Here are Sportsdunia's Brann vs Bologna player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Santiago Castro’s ninth-minute strike shaped the entire rhythm of the match.
• Nicolo Cambiaghi’s assist and relentless work rate made him the standout performer.
• Brann controlled phases but lacked cutting edge in the final third.

Brann Player Ratings vs Bologna

Here are the Brann player ratings against Bologna.

Goalkeeper

Mathias Dyngeland - 7.0: We felt he had a solid game despite the loss. He was left exposed for the goal but made four crucial saves to keep his team in the contest. His distribution was notably calm and accurate, finding a teammate 89% of the time.

Defenders

Fredrik Pallesen Knudsen - 7.0: The captain led by example with a commanding defensive display. He was an absolute giant in the air, winning 86% of his aerial duels. His positioning was excellent, making four clearances and an interception.

Nana Kwame Boakye - 6.5: A very active performance from the defender, who recorded an incredible 125 touches. He was a ball-winning machine, making 10 recoveries. However, a lapse in discipline led to a yellow card. He also lost possession 12 times, which was a slight negative on an otherwise industrious evening.

Joachim Soltvedt - 6.5: He was Brann's main creative outlet from the back, providing two key passes. He constantly looked to get forward, delivering seven crosses into the box. The downside was his tendency to lose the ball, which happened 22 times.

Denzel De Roeve - 7.5: From our perspective, he was Brann's best player. A defensive dynamo who won an astounding 11 of his 15 duels. He was a tackling machine, winning five of his six attempts. His energy down the flank was relentless, contributing both in defense and attack.

Midfielders

Felix Horn Myhre - 6.5: He kept the midfield ticking over nicely, showing composure on the ball and drawing three fouls. He did his defensive duties with three clearances. However, we noticed he didn't offer a significant creative threat going forward.

K. Ingason - 5.5: This was a night to forget for the midfielder. He struggled to get into the rhythm of the game, losing possession 11 times in his 69 minutes. He was a bit too aggressive, committing three fouls. It just wasn't his day, and his substitution felt inevitable.

Jacob Lungi Sørensen - 6.0: A physically dominant but technically erratic performance. He was strong in the air, winning five aerial duels. The major issue was his carelessness in possession, losing the ball a staggering 21 times.

Forwards

Ulrik Mathisen - 6.0: He had one good-headed chance that was saved, but was otherwise on the periphery of the action. His pass completion rate of 55% was poor for an attacking player. He struggled to link up with his teammates and was eventually substituted.

Jón Dagur Thorsteinsson - 6.0: A frustrating evening for the attacker. He missed a big chance and was incredibly wasteful, losing possession 20 times. His decision-making in the final third was questionable. He tried to make things happen, but his efforts were ultimately fruitless.

Noah Holm - 6.5: He was a real handful for the Bologna defenders. He used his strength to win 10 duels and draw four fouls, providing a focal point for the attack. However, his contribution in front of the goal was minimal.

Substitutes

Thore Pedersen - N/A: Came on too late to make a significant impact on the match.

Bård Finne - N/A: Introduced with just over ten minutes to play, but couldn't find a breakthrough.

Vetle Dragsnes - N/A: A late substitution with little time to influence the proceedings.

Markus Haaland - N/A: Brought on in the final stages as Brann chased an equalizer.

Manager

F. Alexandersson - 6.0: His team showed good intent and dominated the ball. However, they lacked the cutting edge to break down a stubborn Bologna defense. His substitutions could have perhaps come earlier to change the dynamic. He'll need a much better attacking strategy for the away leg.

Bologna Player Ratings vs Brann

Check out the Bologna player ratings vs Brann.

Goalkeeper

Lukasz Skorupski - 7.0: He was a crucial part of this victory, making two vital saves when Brann were pressing hard. While his long-ball distribution was a bit wayward, his shot-stopping was on point. He commanded his box and gave his defense confidence. A clean sheet away from home is a great result for a keeper.

Defenders

Nadir Zortea - 6.5: A steady and unremarkable performance, which is a compliment for a defender in an away win. He made a couple of clearances and an interception, doing his job without any fuss. He wasn't spectacular, but he was solid and reliable.

Jhon Lucumí - 7.0: A rock at the heart of the defense. He was dominant in the air, winning 60% of his aerial battles. His reading of the game was superb, making five clearances and an interception. He was a key figure in preserving the clean sheet with his no-nonsense defending.

Juan Miranda - 7.5: An excellent two-way performance from the full-back. He was defensively sound, but also a threat going forward, creating two chances and delivering dangerous crosses. He showed great intelligence to draw three fouls and relieve pressure.

Martin Vitík - 6.0: He had a slightly nervy game. He made four clearances but also committed five fouls, which showed some ill-discipline. He looked a bit clumsy at times and was lucky not to get into more trouble with the referee.

Midfielders

Nikola Moro - 7.0: He was Bologna's creative engine in midfield. Before his substitution, he created three chances for his teammates with some incisive passing. He was always looking to play forward and break the lines.

Remo Freuler - 6.5: The midfield enforcer did his job effectively. He broke up play with three tackles and kept possession ticking over. He wasn't flashy, but his work rate and defensive diligence were vital. He provided the platform for the more creative players to perform.

Lewis Ferguson - 6.5: The captain put in a real shift, battling hard in the midfield trenches. He won six duels and was a constant competitor. His influence faded a bit in the second half before he was substituted.

Forwards

Santiago Castro - 7.5: His impact was short but incredibly sweet. He scored the winning goal with a clinical finish early in the game. He looked sharp and dangerous until an unfortunate injury forced him off at halftime.

Federico Bernardeschi - 5.5: We were really surprised by how poor he was. He picked up a needless yellow card and was incredibly sloppy in possession. He offered almost nothing going forward and was rightly substituted at halftime.

Nicolò Cambiaghi - 8.0: The undisputed man of the match. He provided the sublime assist for the winning goal and was a constant threat with his movement and skill. What stood out was his defensive work rate, making four tackles from the front.

Substitutes

Riccardo Orsolini - 7.0: Made a huge impact after coming on at halftime. He was far more dangerous than Bernardeschi, forcing a great save and looking lively.

Thijs Dallinga - 6.5: Replaced the goalscorer Castro and worked hard up front. He had a couple of efforts on goal but couldn't find the net.

Simon Sohm - N/A: Brought on late to help see out the game.

Jonathan Rowe - N/A: A late cameo with little time to get involved.

Manager

V. Italiano - 7.5: A tactical triumph for the Bologna boss. His team scored early and then defended with discipline and organization. His decision to replace Bernardeschi with Orsolini at halftime was a masterstroke that changed the game's dynamic. A perfect away performance game plan.

Man of the Match

Nicolo Cambiaghi was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Federico Bernardeschi was the worst performer in the Brann vs Bologna match.