Brann vs Rangers LIVE score and goal updates from the crunch Europa League clash

Big night for Brann

The Brann Stadion is a brilliant place to play football. This compact ground holds 17,500 and reminds you a bit of Tynecastle with the fans close to the pitch.

There are Scottish links to the club, mainly ex-Rangers man Charlie Miller who spent a couple of seasons here and became a cult hero with Brann supporters.

This a hugely anticipated fixture for the home fans, who are ready to create a terrific atmosphere. Locals say Rangers' visit is the biggest occasion here since Liverpool visited in the Cup Winners Cup back in 1997.

This is clearly an important night for Rangers and new boss Danny Rohl. But it's also a huge game for Brann who want to follow up their Europa League victory over Dutch side Utrecht by recording a historic result against Gers.

Chance for Chermiti

Rangers' sporting director Kevin Thelwell was grilled by the media at Rohl's unveiling on the signing of striker Youssef Chermiti for £8 million.

The former Everton front-man has shown very little so far in a Rangers shirt to justify that price tag.

Thelwell is adamant he'll come good and new gaffer Rohl has given him an early chance to impress in Bergen.

In his first game in charge, he's made a statement by starting with Chermiti up front in place of Bojan Miovski.

Now it's up to the Portugese kid to repay that faith with a performance.

Rohl reception

Rangers' new boss Danny Rohl has just walked around the Brann Stadium to greet the travelling supporters and the German was given a rousing reception.

The fans even have a new song for him already to the tune of Daddy CooL. That will soon catch on if he gets off to a good start as gaffer.

And it's certainly more than his predecessor Russell Martin ever got from the fanbase.

Rohl might not have been their first choice as boss but it's clear they're going to back him from the start.

Prediction time

The Record Sportwriters predict whether that will happen in Norway or not.

Scott McDermott

Danny Rohl can get his Rangers career off to a flier with a much-needed Europa League win in Bergen. It will be a British-type game which should suit Rangers.

The home side will try to get after them early on and use the atmosphere to their advantage.

But if Rangers can weather that and use Djeidi Gassama as an outlet on the break, he can be their game changer in Europe again.

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Andy Newport

Saturday’s first 45 minutes against Dundee United demonstrated what Gers can do now they’ve freed themselves from Russell Martin’s idealistic shackles but the second half was another reminder of why the club are in such a mess. Danny Rohl will hope to inject some pace and intensity into the lethargic Light Blues but it won’t be a quick fix. A draw on the road would be a decent start for the German.

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Keith Jackson

He won’t get many of them but this is effectively a free hit for Danny Rohl. Select the right players in their best positions and improve the level of performance. Anything else would be a bonus for a new boss who has had little or no time to get his message across.

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Fraser Wilson

Danny Rohl has vowed to sort the basics before trying to play flashy football and that should start with the leaky Gers backline. Not quite enough to halt a Brann side that’s produced some impressive results in Europe this season but sufficient to nab a point on the road with gives them a start in salvaging the Euro campaign.

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Craig Swan

Brann has a good recent record at home in domestic competition, but were beaten on their own patch in Europe by Hacken in qualifying. Rangers’ players will surely be out to show Danny Rohl their mettle and that can get the Ibrox team a positive outcome.

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Michael Gannon

Rangers should get a new manager bounce and they do have the fire power to bash Brann. If Danny Rohl gets the back line focussed he can get off to a solid start in Norway.

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Bergen bash

Brann Bergen boss Freyr Alexandersson says they’re going to have a PARTY against Rangers, writes Scott McDermott in Bergen.

But he fears the appointment of Danny Rohl might spoil the Norwegians’ big night.

Brann’s Europa League clash with Gers will be one of the biggest occasions in the club’s history.

Locals have compared it to Liverpool’s visit to Bergen in 1997 in the quarter-finals of the Cup Winners' Cup.

Alexandersson knows the importance of the tie and his side will be backed by a sell-out 17,000 home crowd.

He expects a fierce atmosphere in the Brann Stadium on Thursday and admits they’ll face an off-form Rangers.

But the Icelandic coach is adamant that Rohl’s arrival at Ibrox will boost the players and make it more difficult for his own team.

We’re really looking forward to having this team and their fans visit. It will be a party atmosphere here on Thursday.

Rangers have grossly under-performed but now they’re bringing in a new manager and that will lift them. It will be a tough match for us.

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