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.
Besiktas’s Portuguese midfielder Manuel Fernandes was the man of the match last week, providing assists for both goals.
Fernandes is just one of Besiktas’s sizeable contingent of Portuguese players, all of whom exert a big influence on the Turkish club’s play, as exemplified by the 3-2 weekend win in the league against Genclerbirligi in which Fernandes, Hugo Almeida and Ricardo Quaresma all scored.
Simao Sabrosa and Julio Alves (the brother of Portugal centre-back Bruno Alves) complete the quintet of Portuguese players at the Istanbul club, who are coached, logically enough by a Portuguese - Carlos Carvalhal.
One aspect the expats at the club always mention when talking to the Portuguese press is the intimidating atmosphere created by the fanatical fans in Turkey.
Nevertheless, Braga midfielder Custódio believes his side can overcome this added difficulty. “We won’t be intimidated by the atmosphere. We have no fear. On the pitch you don’t notice it. We’re going to focus solely on our strategy to get into the next round,” said Custódio.
Braga are without Mossoró and Ewerton injured, and Barbosa, who is suspended. Kick off at 10.05 pm local time in Istanbul.
“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.
Besiktas’s Portuguese midfielder Manuel Fernandes was the man of the match last week, providing assists for both goals.
Fernandes is just one of Besiktas’s sizeable contingent of Portuguese players, all of whom exert a big influence on the Turkish club’s play, as exemplified by the 3-2 weekend win in the league against Genclerbirligi in which Fernandes, Hugo Almeida and Ricardo Quaresma all scored.
Simao Sabrosa and Julio Alves (the brother of Portugal centre-back Bruno Alves) complete the quintet of Portuguese players at the Istanbul club, who are coached, logically enough by a Portuguese - Carlos Carvalhal.
One aspect the expats at the club always mention when talking to the Portuguese press is the intimidating atmosphere created by the fanatical fans in Turkey.
Nevertheless, Braga midfielder Custódio believes his side can overcome this added difficulty. “We won’t be intimidated by the atmosphere. We have no fear. On the pitch you don’t notice it. We’re going to focus solely on our strategy to get into the next round,” said Custódio.
Braga are without Mossoró and Ewerton injured, and Barbosa, who is suspended. Kick off at 10.05 pm local time in Istanbul.
