Having seen fellow Italians Inter Milan felled in the icy cold of a Norwegian winter only last night, Bologna knew that a brave start would serve them well.
And in contrast to the goalless draw these sides ground out during the league phase, it only took nine minutes for Bologna to nose ahead.
Castro broke his 2025/26 UEL duck in impressive style, as he rifled the strike from the tightest of angles straight past Mathias Dyngeland into the bottom corner.
Down, but certainly not yet out of the game, Brann had to be patient for their first shot on target.
It certainly took a spectacular save from Lukasz Skorupski to maintain his side’s slender lead when that moment finally arrived.
Beating his marker hands down, it initially appeared that Ulrik Mathisen’s 24th-minute header was destined for the back of the net - that was until the Polish international somehow got his gloves to it.
To the frustration of the majority in attendance at Brann Stadion, it was the only save that Bologna’s number one had to make before the break.
Interestingly, Bologna manager Vincenzo Italiano decided to replace scorer Castro and Federico Bernardeschi with Thijs Dallinga and leading marksman across all competitions this season, Riccardo Orsolini.
The formational change gave Brann the opportunity to create the first chance of the second half, with Skorupski having to be alert, as he forcefully diverted Noah Holm’s effort away from goal.
However, it didn’t take one of Bologna’s half-time alterations long to nearly make an impact, as only a fine save from Dyngeland denied Dallinga’s effort from doubling the visitors’ lead.
Not wanting Dallinga to steal the headlines, Orsolini’s snapshot from just outside the area called Dyngeland into another smart stop six minutes later.
The battle between Bologna’s substitutes continued in the 74th minute, with Dallinga again seeing Dyngeland in the way of him getting his name on the scoresheet.
Nevertheless, Dallinga surely wouldn’t have been frustrated on a successful night in Norway that extended the Rossoblù's unbeaten run to eight matches (W5, D3).
Speaking of Italiano’s slender advantage, they now have a prime chance of qualifying for a first appearance in the main knockout stages of a European competition since the 1998/99 UEFA Cup campaign.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Santiago Castro (Bologna)
