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.
“It’s going to be one of the most difficult games of the championship,” conceded Benfica boss Jorge Jesus. “Braga have a lot of quality and are playing an excellent championship. They have four more points than at the same stage last season and, like Benfica, they haven’t lost in their own stadium.
“These are factors that indicate the game will be complicated, but Benfica will, as always, be with good morale and ready to take on our adversary in order to leave Braga with the three points.”
An interesting side story to the match is the fact that former Benfica fans’ favorite Nuno Gomes will be facing his former side for the first time since leaving the Eagles in the summer. The last time Nuno Gomes played against Benfica was way back in 1997 in the Portuguese Cup final, when he scored as Boavista won 3-2 to lift the trophy. Gomes would go on to spend most of the intervening 14 years of a glittering career scoring goals for Benfica.
Goalkeeper Quim is another Benfica veteran who will come up against his former team-mates. Both Gomes and Quim may feel they have a point to prove, with many arguing both players were moved out of the Estádio da Luz before their time was up.
Braga coach Jardim played down talk of the duo being extra motivated in order to show Jesus that he made a mistake in letting them go. “I don’t believe this. Nuno and Quim have a long career behind them and they don’t have to prove anything to anybody. They want to play, for sure, but only because it is the big game of the weekend,” said Jardim.
Kick off at the AXA Stadium at 6pm local time.
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.
“It’s going to be one of the most difficult games of the championship,” conceded Benfica boss Jorge Jesus. “Braga have a lot of quality and are playing an excellent championship. They have four more points than at the same stage last season and, like Benfica, they haven’t lost in their own stadium.
“These are factors that indicate the game will be complicated, but Benfica will, as always, be with good morale and ready to take on our adversary in order to leave Braga with the three points.”
An interesting side story to the match is the fact that former Benfica fans’ favorite Nuno Gomes will be facing his former side for the first time since leaving the Eagles in the summer. The last time Nuno Gomes played against Benfica was way back in 1997 in the Portuguese Cup final, when he scored as Boavista won 3-2 to lift the trophy. Gomes would go on to spend most of the intervening 14 years of a glittering career scoring goals for Benfica.
Goalkeeper Quim is another Benfica veteran who will come up against his former team-mates. Both Gomes and Quim may feel they have a point to prove, with many arguing both players were moved out of the Estádio da Luz before their time was up.
Braga coach Jardim played down talk of the duo being extra motivated in order to show Jesus that he made a mistake in letting them go. “I don’t believe this. Nuno and Quim have a long career behind them and they don’t have to prove anything to anybody. They want to play, for sure, but only because it is the big game of the weekend,” said Jardim.
Kick off at the AXA Stadium at 6pm local time.
