Sint-Truiden were forced to share the points at home against Norway’s Brann Bergen in a UEFA Conference League-phase match, DHnet reported, ending the Belgian club’s winning start in its first-ever European campaign.
The draw came under interim coach Sepp De Roover, who took charge of the first team this week after the club parted ways with Frédéric De Meyer following a 1-2 home defeat to Oud-Heverlee Leuven on Sunday — the fifth league loss for the Limburg side, RTBF reported.
Saint-Trond entered the matchday 3 fixture atop form in Europe. The club opened its Conference League campaign with a 2-0 win over Iberia Tbilisi and a 1-0 victory at Denmark’s Midtjylland, leaving it among the eight teams sitting on the maximum six points, according to RTBF. A win on Thursday would have made it three straight victories; the draw instead leaves that milestone unclaimed.
De Roover’s makeshift bench without Kota Takai
De Roover went into the match with a defensive selection headache. Kota Takai, a key figure in Saint-Trond’s back line in recent weeks, was injured in the league defeat to OH Leuven and was forced off at halftime, Walfoot reported. According to Het Nieuwsblad, as cited by Walfoot, Takai had not trained with the group since that match, leaving his availability for the European fixture far from certain. With Takai sidelined, De Roover would have to reorganize his defense.
Sint-Truiden vs Brann — two perfect starts, one of them built on clean sheets Preview · UEFA Conference League · League Phase, Matchday 3 · Thursday 5 November 2026 Sint-Truiden and Brann both arrive at Stayen with six points from two Conference League games, and both have got…
Walfoot reported that De Roover could count on a fully fit core for the match against Brann, giving him options at nearly every position.
A confidence boost at a delicate moment
Saint-Trond wanted to pick up points at home again on Thursday.
Brann Bergen, meanwhile, arrived in Sint-Truiden as an opponent looking to halt the Belgian side’s perfect start in the competition’s league phase.
Takai’s status still unresolved
Whether Takai will be fit for Saint-Trond’s next match remains the open question at the club. The defender has not returned to group training since leaving the pitch against OH Leuven, and his chances of being ready in time have been described as limited, according to Walfoot’s report citing Het Nieuwsblad. Until he resumes training with the squad, De Roover must plan the defense without him.
The club’s next confirmed checkpoint is its return to domestic league action, with the interim coaching situation and Takai’s fitness both unresolved as the week progresses. For full match coverage, see the RTBF live report and Walfoot’s injury update.
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