The visitors’ attacking leaders could decide the outcome: Kauno Žalgiris vs Brann prediction
FK Kauno Zalgiris
The second-round match of the Conference League league phase between Kauno Žalgiris and Brann will take place in Kaunas on October 22, 2026. The Lithuanian club opened the tournament with a heavy 0-4 defeat to Brighton, while the Norwegians beat Lincoln 2-1. Noah Holm and Niklas Castro look set to be the key figures ahead of this encounter, with Brann’s main attacking burden resting on their shoulders.
- Читайте также: The visitors’ streak should continue in Andorra: Inter Escaldes vs Universitatea Craiova prediction
Kauno Žalgiris: confident at home but collapsed in the opening round
The Lithuanian side has been producing solid results in domestic competitions recently. In their last six matches, Kauno Žalgiris have recorded four wins, including a 1-0 victory over Sūduva, a 3-0 triumph against Minija and a 2-0 win over Šiauliai. At the same time, the 0-4 defeat to Brighton in the opening round of the Conference League exposed a significant gap in quality when facing a stronger European opponent.
It is particularly concerning that the Lithuanians failed to score against the English side and allowed their opponents to create far too many dangerous chances around their goal. The team currently have zero points and a -4 goal difference in the competition, so they need to play with greater ambition. However, that approach against Brann could open up additional spaces for the visitors’ quick attacks.
Brann: relying on Castro and Holm
The Norwegian club began the league phase with a 2-1 win over Lincoln. The standout performer in that match was Niklas Castro, who scored twice. For the Chilean forward, those were already his fifth and sixth goals in six European matches this season, including the qualifying rounds, where he has also found the net regularly.
Noah Holm remains another key figure. He scored three goals in the Conference League qualifiers and is also one of the team’s leading scorers in domestic competitions. Overall, Holm has netted nine goals in 29 official appearances this season, while Castro also has nine goals but in just 17 matches. This partnership represents the main threat to opposing defenses.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- Kauno Žalgiris lost 0-4 to Brighton in the opening round of the league phase.
- Niklas Castro has scored six goals in six European matches this season.
- Noah Holm scored three times in the Conference League qualifiers and has nine goals in all competitions.
The main threat comes from two forwards: Kauno Žalgiris vs Brann prediction
Kauno Žalgiris can put up a fight at home, but the match against Brighton showed how vulnerable their defense can become against a higher-quality attacking line. Brann have not been flawless in terms of overall form, but they possess two players who consistently make the most of their chances.
Castro has been particularly effective in European matches, while Holm remains one of the most reliable options up front. Therefore, the most logical expectation is that at least one of these two forwards will be able to capitalize on mistakes in the Lithuanian defense.
