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Can league leaders Porto overcome the threat of third-placed Sporting Braga?
Braga could go top on Saturday. They will entertain current leaders Porto at the Estadio Axa. The crowd will certainly be up for this game, as will the players.
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Braga facing huge challenge against Porto’s remarkable defense
With just five matches remaining in the 2011/12 edition of the Portuguese League, it certainly looks like it will come down to the wire for the top three.
After making it to the Europa League final last season, Braga will play yet another decisive match against Porto this weekend. Last weekend, Braga saw a certain draw slip away in extra time as the ‘Guerreiros’ allowed title candidates Benfica to get a last minute victory.
Braga continue quest to turn Portugal’s “Big Three” into Portugal’s “Big Four”
The achievements of Braga football club in recent seasons have been simply astonishing. Yet even the most optimistic of their fans would have been hard-pushed to believe that with just six rounds of the Liga ZON Sagres championship remaining, Leonardo Jardim’s men would be proudly sitting top of the pile.
And should the Arsenalistas come out of Saturday night’s crunch clash against Benfica in Lisbon with the three points, hopes will be further raised that Braga can shatter the triumvirate of Benfica, FC Porto and Sporting that have exercised a vice-like stranglehold on the biggest prize in the Portuguese game. Only twice in the entire history of Portuguese football has the championship been won by a team outside the traditional big three. Boavista enjoyed their finest moment at the turn of the millennium, and before that we have to travel back to the 1945/46 season, when Belenenses triumphed. Both clubs are now languishing in the lower divisions.
Can Sporting Braga take advantage of Benfica’s slip?
Title contenders Sporting Braga have twelve wins in a row. They’re the only team with twelve consecutive victories in major leagues around the world.
Mar 26, 2012 - 4:15pm Sporting Braga vs Academica de Coimbra
It’s been four months since they have lost or drawn a match for the Portuguese Liga Zon/Sagres. They’ve been defeated in Estádio do Dragão home to FC Porto. Until a week ago, only Real Madrid matched this amazing record of eleven wins in a row.
This Monday March 26, SC Braga meets Académica de Coimbra at Estádio Axa, also called “the quarry”. It’s always a hard task to play Académica. However, if they manage to beat the "Students" next Monday, they will take over second place in the league. In those conditions, they’ll meet Benfica with a two point advantage next week.
Jorge Fucile affirms that at Santos he feels "the pressure to win titles"
The Uruguayan international believes he made the right choice in leaving FC Porto for the South American champions.
Jorge Fucile, the Uruguayan right-back of Santos, affirmed that he has had no trouble adapting to Brazilian soccer since joining the South American champions from FC Porto this season.Fucile also expressed his appreciation for the manner in which his new team-mates and the Santos fans have treated him upon his arrival.
"The fans received me very well, everyone with their arms wide open. For this reason my adaptation to Brazilian soccer has been easier. I'm passing through a good moment here. We feel the pressure to win titles, and I hope to continue to help Santos win. We are working for this," stated Fucile, before revealing his best friends within the Santos squad.
Sporting Braga vs Vitoria Guimaraes Preview
In Portugal’s biggest match that does not involve the traditional big three, Braga and Vitória Guimarães go head to head in the Minho derby on Monday night.
Both clubs go into the match in superb form. Braga have won 11 of their last 12 matches, and should they prevail tomorrow the Arsenalistas will move to within three points of joint Liga ZON Sagres leaders, Benfica and FC Porto. But Vitória have won five out of their last six Liga games, and became the first team to defeat Benfica last weekend with a hard-fought but deserved 1-0 victory.
Braga coach Leonardo Jardim is in no doubt about the outcome he is after. “The only result we want is the win. That will allow us to consolidate our position in the table,” said the man whose success this season has earned him the nickname of “the Mourinho of Madeira”.
Beşiktaş vs Sporting Braga Report
Braga put up a brave fight in Istanbul and beat Besiktas 1-0 on the night, but it is the Turkish side who make progress in the Europa League.
The Turks started in a strong position having beaten Braga 2-0 in Portugal last week, and perhaps feeling that the tie was won, Besiktas began the match in lethargic mood. Braga took full advantage to take control of proceedings. Amorim missed a glorious early chance, but striker Lima made no mistake in the 25th minute to bring the Arsenalistas back into the tie.
Besiktas responded well to the setback, and almost equalised on several occasions either side of half time.
Braga refused to give up however, and Lima missed the sort of chance he usually takes without fuss to let the hosts off the hook.
Beşiktaş vs Sporting Braga Preview
Last season’s Europa League runners-up, Braga, face an uphill task if they want to continue in this season’s competition.
The Portuguese side go into the away leg of their tie against Besiktas 2-0 down after the first leg. Not that the Arsenalistas have given up hope. Far from it. That was Braga’s only defeat in their last eleven games, having won the other ten. “We want to get into the next round. We know what our opponents are worth. We expect a more attacking Besiktas this time. We can’t go all out attack. We have to have a balanced approach,” said coach Leonardo Jardim.
Jardim lamented the fact that the match in Braga was heavily influenced by the sending off of Braga forward Hélder Barbosa. “It was a match of two halves. Until Barbosa’s sending off we dominated proceedings. After the red card we lost control and conceded two goals,” added Jardim.
Sporting Braga vs Sporting CP Lisbon Report
Braga scored a crucial win over Sporting on Sunday night to leapfrog their rivals from Lisbon and move up into 3rd in the table - the last place giving access to next season's Champions League.
There was little goalmouth action in the first half, with Rui Patrício's save from Marcio Mossoró the closest either side came to breaking the dealock. The second half started with a bang as Sporting midfielder Matias Fernández was unlucky to see his shot cannon back off the post.
Braga took the lead shortly afterwards as Hélder Barbosa got on the end of a Lima pass and opened the scoring.
Lima himself scored Braga's second in the 64th minute, capitalising on a mistake by Sporting centre-back Alberto Rodriguez.
Sporting Braga vs Sporting CP Lisbon Preview
It’s 3rd versus 4th in the match of the weekend in Portugal on Sunday as Sporting travel to Braga.
The game marks the first return of Domingos Paciência to the club were he consolidated his reputation as one of Portugal’s top up-and-coming coaches. Domingos enjoyed tremendous success at Braga, leading the club to runners-up in the Liga in 2009/10 (their highest ever finish) and the Europa League final the following year. “Returning to a ground were I was so happy is a very good feeling. I can’t say if it is an advantage for me. The only advantage may come from the fact I know most of Braga’s players and their strong and weak points,” said the Sporting coach.
With Sporting having won only one of their last four Liga matches, Domingos knows his team cannot afford any more dropped points if they want to make a serious challenge for the title this season.
Celtic vs Atletico Madrid highlights Wednesday night’s Europa League action
Twelve matches will take place across the European continent tonight as the UEFA Europa League enters Matchday 5.
At White Hart Lane, Tottenham Hotspur will host PAOK. The Londoners dropped to third in Group A following their shocking 1-0 defeat away to second-placed Rubin Kazan on November 3. PAOK currently lead the way in the table but only a point separates them from Spurs.
“It's a must-win game as we're a point behind and you can see Rubin beating Shamrock,” Harry Redknapp told UEFA.com in the buildup to the game.
“We've got a good squad and we'll make changes tomorrow but we've got a lot of high quality players. We will carry on with our own plan and do what we have to but it will be difficult as they are a good team.”
FC Porto vs Sporting Braga Report
FC Porto went back to the top of the Liga ZON Sagres with a 3-2 victory over Braga tonight at the Estádio do Dragão.
Hulk was once again the main man for Porto. The Brazilian striker put the Dragons ahead in the 37th minute, heading in a James Rodríguez cross to give the hosts a half-time lead. Hulk added a brilliant second in the 78th minute, curling a 20-yard shot beyond Quim and into the corner of the net with his left foot.
The Porto number twelve was in unstoppable form, and a superb piece of wing play set up a simple goal for substitute Kléber.
Braga were reeling at this point but made the score respectable with two late goals.
FC Porto vs Sporting Braga Preview
While most attention in Portugal this weekend will focus on the Lisbon derby, another mouth-watering contest is in prospect 300 km up the A1 motorway, as FC Porto host fellow northerners Braga.
The pressure alleviated somewhat on Porto coach Vítor Pereira in midweek as a three-game winless run was halted with a crucial victory away at Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League. It was a solid rather than spectacular performance, with Hulk once again the stand-out player for the Dragons. With new signing Kleber failing to fire, James Rodríguez fading after a promising start to the campaign and Silvestre Varela unable to repeat his form of last season, the burly Brazilian has been the fulcrum of Porto’s attacking game all season.
A goal and an assist in Wednesday’s 2-0 victory in Ukraine exemplified just how important Hulk is to the Portuguese champions.
Sporting Braga vs Benfica Report
In the big game in Portugal this weekend end Braga and Benfica played out a typically feisty 1-1 draw.
Benfica came into the match knowing victory would take them to the top of the league, ahead of FC Porto. But the Eagles have struggled to win at Braga in recent years, and in a first half that was interrupted three times because of floodlight failure, Braga too the lead just before the break.
Emerson was adjudged to have handled in the box and Brazilian striker Lima slotted the penalty past former Braga goalkeeper Artur.
Benfica came back strongly in the second half and Rodrigo continued his excellent form with the equalizer on 73 minutes, with the aid of a deflection.
Sporting Braga vs Benfica Preview
Benfica and Braga go head to head in the match of the weekend in Portugal at the magnificent AXA Stadium on Sunday.
Following Porto’s draw to Olhanense on Saturday night Benfica will go clear at the top of the table if they overcome Braga. But that is a big if. Braga versus Benfica has become a grudge match in recent years, especially when played in the northern city. The Arsenalistas have got the better of their more storied opponents on the last four occasions they have met in Braga, including the memorable triumph at the tail end of last season in the Europa League semi-final.
And Braga have been in good form this season too. It’s four matches, four wins for Leonardo Jardim’s men at home in the Liga ZON Sagres this season, and they come into the match on the back of a 5-1 thrashing handed out to Maribor in the Europa League on Thursday.
FC Porto vs Sporting Braga Europa League Final: Happy 33rd Birthday For Helton?
May 18, 2011 marks the 33rd birthday of FC Porto goalkeeper Helton. The Brazilian is looking forward to making it a memorable one.
Whether you lose or win a final, you will remember it... for different reasons, actually. Maybe because a crucial mistake cost your team the title or maybe because a heroic gesture offered glory to your club. Helton is hoping for the latter to happen. In an interview with UEFA.com, the goalkeeper declared:“It will be one heck of a present if we win the UEFA Europa League [on Wednesday]. Everybody knows just how badly I want to win a European competition with Porto.”
Helton has been a champion with FC Porto at several occasions. He has won 5 different Portuguese league medals since joining the Dragons in 2005.
FC Porto Vs Sporting Braga: Portuguese Troops Set To Gate-crash Dublin
The Europa League might not be a glamorous event but as far as Porto and Braga are concerned, all hell is set to break loose tomorrow.
They might just be separated by a mere 47 kilometres but Sporting Braga and FC Porto are all geared up to provide plenty of thrill and excitement in the UEFA Europa League final 2011 tomorrow. The stage has been set in Dublin and nothing else will matter as Live Soccer TV builds up to the supernova Iberian battle.
Well, Andre Villas-Boas has been the talk of the season hasn't he? Drawing comparisons with Jose Mourinho is already something magnificent but the fact that Villas-Boas is already being touted as Mourinho 2.0 literally speaks for himself. The volume of his success at Porto this season deserves recognition and the brand of football that he has implemented into FC Porto has made them a force to be reckoned with in Europe.
Sporting Braga vs Benfica Report
SC Braga scraped into the UEFA Europa League Final with a hard fought 1-0 win over SL Benfica.
A first half header from Custodio gave Braga the win and sealed their progress on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate draw over two legs. Braga will now face FC Porto in Europe’s first ever all-Portuguese final.Braga threatened first and it took good defensive work from Benfica captain Luisao to prevent Mossoro from scoring. Brazilian striker Lima then had a good chance for Braga but sent his finish high over the bar.
Braga’s good start paid off in the 19th minute when they took a decisive 1-0 lead. Hugo Viana swung over a corner and Portuguese midfielder Custodio rose highest to plant a header past Roberto.
Sporting Braga Vs Benfica: Can Braga End Jorge Jesus' Hopes For Silverware?
Benfica have a slender 2-1 lead ahead of their visit to Braga tonight but European nights are impossible to predict and it could even be an end to Jorge Jesus' hopes for silverware this season.
'Frustrating' is the clear description of Benfica's roller-coaster season so far. Watching rivals FC Porto lift the title in their very own Estadio da Luz must have been as painful as seeing Porto once against blow Benfica's hopes for silverware in the Portugal cup after Andre Villas-Boas men defeated them. But the quest for a trophy has not been concluded yet for this season with Benfica still in a strong position for a Europa League final spot.
But standing in their way is Sporting Braga. Frankly speaking, Braga proved to be more than just an ordinary opponents during the first leg at Benfica last week and while Benfica do have a very slender lead, it remains to be seen whether they will be able to finish the job at Braga tonight. Especially when even Braga's manager Domingos Paciência called it as the biggest match in their history.
Sporting Braga vs Benfica Preview
SL Benfica will be defending a slender 2-1 aggregate lead when they travel to face SC Braga in the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg.
Braga captain Vandinho cancelled out Jardel’s opener during the first leg, before Oscar Cardozo struck to give Benfica a 2-1 win.Braga know if they keep a clean sheet one goal will be enough to see them advance. This task will be made difficult by the fact that Benfica have found the net in every away game they have played in this seasons Europa League. Braga midfielder Hugo Viana is unnerved by this fact. “I have been told Benfica always score away goals, but I heard the same about Dynamo Kyiv and also that Liverpool always score at home,” Viana told the official UEFA website.
Benfica midfielder Javier Saviola will feature in the Benfica midfield as they look to reach the final. Saviola played for Sevilla when they beat Middlesbrough FC 4-0 in the 2006 UEFA Cup Final.
Benfica vs Sporting Braga Report
SL Benfica gained a slim advantage with a 2-1 win over SC Braga in the UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg.
All the goals were scored in a nine minute spell early in the second half. Braga captain Vandinho cancelled out Jardel’s opener, before Oscar Cardozo gave Benfica a 2-1 aggregate lead ahead of the second leg.Both sides had an early scoring chance, first Benfica striker Javier Saviola had his shot cleared, before Silvio fired wide at the other end.
After 20 minutes Saviola forced a good save from Braga goalkeeper Artur, before Pablo Aimar played in Cardozo, only for the Paraguay striker to lift over the bar. Cardozo went close again just before half-time when he collected Saviola’s through ball only to fire against the goal post.
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