Kongsvinger (home)
- Monday’s opening round 1. divisjon matchup should be a good one with both Kongsvinger IL and Bryne FK playing attacking soccer and arriving off the back of positive pre-season results.
- The hosts are an attacking team in the mold of a Manchester City or Borussia Dortmund that play an attack-first, vertical style of soccer - and build up when the time is right.
- Johnson had a prolific 2025 and has started pre-season in the Kongsvinger line-up.
- However, the Blue Ones have other threats as well with the likes of young playmaker Ludvig Langrekken, who grabbed a goal in the 3-3 draw with Hammarby and impressed with his all-round game, adding to his creative spark.
- His side scored three times in each of their last two pre-season games and came from behind to beat Stabæk 3-2 while they held out Hammarby for a 3-3 draw.
Bryne (away)
- Bryne, on the other hand, are more like Chelsea or Atletico Madrid in terms of their preferred style and shape.
- They are compact and disciplined, controlling the tempo and trying to deny space to the opposition and create it on counter-attack.
- Nicklas Strunck is the midfield dynamo of the Bryne team that knocked Rosenborg out of the cup in March by 4-2 and edged Sogndal 3-2 in a friendly.
- While the visitors have a reliable goalscorer in young forward Sjur T. Jonassen, who scored multiple times in cup and friendly action, the hosts have their own hot shot in Gabriel Johnson.
- Gaute Larsen’s Bryne side looks to be playing a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 system in 2026 with an emphasis on creating a dominant presence in the midfield with players like Strunck who can create chances and score goals.
- Duo Duarte Moreira and Alfred Scriven have been ever-present in the Bryne XI during pre-season and have the pace to get at the Kongsvinger full backs.
Head-to-Head
- Both teams scored in several 1. divisjon matches between these clubs.
- Kongsvinger have been involved in several tight, tight matches with Bryne since 2022, with several draws.
- But they won the last meeting in June 2024 by 3-1 at home and, although the score was 1-1 when the two sides last met in August of the same year, the trend is for both to find the net.
Key Players
- Nicklas Strunck is the midfield dynamo of the Bryne team that knocked Rosenborg out of the cup in March by 4-2 and edged Sogndal 3-2 in a friendly.
- While the visitors have a reliable goalscorer in young forward Sjur T. Jonassen, who scored multiple times in cup and friendly action, the hosts have their own hot shot in Gabriel Johnson.
- Johnson had a prolific 2025 and has started pre-season in the Kongsvinger line-up.
- However, the Blue Ones have other threats as well with the likes of young playmaker Ludvig Langrekken, who grabbed a goal in the 3-3 draw with Hammarby and impressed with his all-round game, adding to his creative spark.
- Duo Duarte Moreira and Alfred Scriven have been ever-present in the Bryne XI during pre-season and have the pace to get at the Kongsvinger full backs.
- The goalkeepers are one position to watch for the Blue Ones with William Da Rocha and Aleksey Gorodovoi competing for the starting role.
Betting Insights
Backing a Kongsvinger win at 2.12 is our best bet for this Monday’s game, but we’re also taking a goal-fest with Over 2.5 goals at 1.6 and Both Teams to Score - Yes at 1.53 because both clubs will want to set the tone for the season and get three points that could put them in the top three.
Prediction
- A close, exciting game is expected with a home win on the cards as both clubs attempt to build some momentum in what will be a 30+ round season.
- This could be an exciting game that could be won by either team, but we’ll back Kongsvinger to nick it.
- Backing Bryne to win could be a consideration here, but the goalkeepers are one position to watch for the Blue Ones with William Da Rocha and Aleksey Gorodovoi competing for the starting role.
