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St. Mirren welcome Brann to The SMISA Stadium for the first leg of their UEFA Conference League quarterfinal third-round qualification tie on Thursday. The hosts kick-started their Scottish Premiership campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Hibernian at the same venue over the weekend.
All three goals were scored in the second half, with Roland Idowu breaking the deadlock in the 48th minute while Oisin Smith added a late brace.
The Buddies will turn their focus to the continent, having advanced to this stage of the Conference League qualifiers with a 4-1 aggregate win over Valur in the last round. A goalless away first-leg draw was followed by a 4-1 win at home.
Brann, meanwhile, claimed maximum points with a 3-2 away win over Stromsgodset in the Norwegian Eliteserien. Bard Finne gave them the lead in the 20th minute while Gustav Valsik's own goal two minutes later doubled their lead. Sander Kartum's 63rd-minute strike proved to be the match-winner.
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The Bergen outfit eliminated Go Ahead Eagles with a 3-2 aggregate win to get to this stage of the Conference League. A 1-1 draw in the Netherlands was followed by a 2-1 victory in Norway.
Corvinul Hunedoara or Astana awaits the winner of this tie in the next round while the losers would be eliminated from the continent.
St. Mirren vs Brann Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- This will be the first meeting between the two sides.
- Five of Brann's last six competitive games have seen both sides find the back of the net.
- Four of St Mirren's last five games have produced three goals or more.
- Four of Brann's last five games across competitions have been level at the break.
- Four of Brann's last six away games in UEFA club competitions have produced less than three goals.
St. Mirren vs Brann Prediction
St. Mirren's fifth-placed finish in the Scottish Premiership last season saw them secure continental football for the first time in 36 years. They have started the new season with a three-game unbeaten run and easily dispatched Valur in the last round of the qualifiers.
Brann are unbeaten in their last five competitive games and enter this game as slight favorites.
We are backing the visitors to claim a narrow victory with goals at both ends.
Prediction: St. Mirren 1-2 Brann
St. Mirren vs Brann Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Brann to win
Tip 2 - Both teams to score
Tip 3 - Over 2.5 goals
Tip 4 - Over 8.5 corner kicks
