Brighton’s opening competitive match of the season ended in a 0‑0 stalemate against a resolute Tromso side in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League play‑off. The Seagulls, who travelled to Norway for the fixture, appeared to struggle at times against a team that is positioned midway through its domestic campaign.
The result means that Brighton must produce a decisive performance at the Amex Stadium in the return leg next Thursday, as any victory would be sufficient to secure a place in the competition’s group stage. Ahead of the game, manager Fabian Hürzeler had warned that midfielder Carlos Baleba would miss the trip due to a minor injury.
The news was particularly noteworthy because Baleba is reportedly close to completing a transfer to Manchester United. Despite his absence, Brighton entered the match with confidence, knowing that their next domestic challenge would be a Premier League opener against Aston Villa on Sunday at 2 pm, broadcast live on Sky Sports. The match itself offered several moments of drama. In the 29th minute, Tromso’s goalkeeper Haugaard was called into action after a long‑range effort from Rutter that curled in from 25 yards.
Haugaard dived to his left and managed to push the ball wide, preserving the clean sheet for his side. Two minutes later, a corner was whipped into the box and fell to Osman, who chested the ball down before unleashing a powerful volley.
Haugaard again displayed reflexes, parrying the effort and forcing another corner. Just before half‑time, a well‑taken corner from Gross found Boscagli unmarked in the centre of the penalty area. The Italian defender rose to meet the ball but headed it over the bar, missing a clear chance to break the deadlock. The first half concluded without any goals, but the intensity remained high.
In the second half, Tromso continued to threaten. In the 49th minute, a pass from Edvardsson found Heine Larsen, who found himself one‑on‑one with the Brighton goalkeeper. Verbruggen sprinted off his line and made a spectacular save, keeping the scores level.
Five minutes later, Brighton’s Ayari began to assert himself, weaving past two defenders before his shot was palmed away by the Tromso keeper. The 75th minute saw a superb cross from Cozier‑Duberry find Kostoulas in the middle of the box. Kostoulas, who had come on as a substitute, headed the ball over from an excellent position, narrowly missing what could have been the opening goal of the tie. Near the end of the match, in the 86th minute, Tromso appeared to be on the verge of scoring when Vadebu capitalised on a defensive lapse by Vuskovic, finding himself clear on goal only to shoot wide.
After the final whistle, Hürzeler addressed the club’s media contingent. He said, "We anticipated exactly how Tromso would set themselves up. They were compact, well‑organized defensively and had a strong presence in the box, blocking shots and making it difficult for us to find space. Their goalkeeper was also in top form, and they transitioned quickly when they won the ball." He continued, "We created a number of chances, but ultimately we have to be satisfied with a draw, even though it is not the result we were hoping for.
I believe we controlled large phases of the game, but we lacked the speed in possession that we need. We had a few opportunities, yet Tromso defended admirably. They produced two big chances on the break, which highlighted areas where we must improve defensively.
Overall, they were a tough opponent, exactly as we expected." Hürzeler added, "Now we look forward to the chance to win the second leg in front of our own supporters. There are specific aspects of our play that we need to refine against Tromso. They are a good footballing side, so we must raise our level to secure a win at the Amex." Looking ahead, Brighton’s next priority is the Premier League opener against Aston Villa.
The match will be streamed live on Sky Sports on Sunday at 2 pm, offering the Seagulls an opportunity to bounce back from the Conference League disappointment and start their domestic campaign positively. Fans are also encouraged to download the Sky Sports app for live coverage and to participate in the Super 6 competition, which offers a chance to win £1 million with free entry.
In summary, the goalless draw in Norway highlighted Brighton’s defensive resilience but also exposed a need for sharper attacking execution and quicker ball movement. The return leg at the Amex will be crucial; a win will not only propel them into the group stage but also restore confidence ahead of their Premier League debut. The team’s ability to adapt, improve their transition play, and capitalize on the home advantage will be decisive factors as they aim to progress in European competition while simultaneously preparing for a demanding domestic season.