Start secured a 2:1 victory over Brann in a Club Friendly on 2 October 2026. The two sides had met just three weeks earlier, when Start won 2:0 at home. This time around the result went the same way, if not with quite the same margin. The match carried the weight of recent history between them.
Start arrived with mixed form in their last five outings. They had shown resilience with wins against Vindbjart and KFUM Oslo, but also suffered heavy defeats to Sandefjord and Aalesund. The 0:3 loss to Sandefjord on 20 September was perhaps the low point. By then the results against Brann and Vindbjart suggested they could compete at this level.
Brann brought a stronger run of results into the fixture. Victories over Bodø/Glimt and Odds had lifted their confidence, while the loss to Lillestrøm and draw with Sandefjord balanced things out. They had come away from the previous meeting with Start with nothing to show, conceding two goals without reply. The result on Sunday extended their unbeaten streak to three matches.
Without detailed event data available, the match cannot be broken down minute by minute. The 2:1 scoreline suggests a closely contested affair rather than a one-sided performance. What stands out is that both teams traded blows without either pulling clear for long stretches. The result matters less for league standing and more for preparation ahead of the season.
Start's recent form shows improvement, particularly after the heavy defeats earlier in September. Three wins from five games, including victories over Brann both times they met, gives them something to build on. Brann's results have been steadier overall, with only one loss in their last five matches. For a friendly, the aim is clearly to find rhythm rather than points.
