Braga will host Qarabag FK in another Round of 16 Europa League tie. With a second-place showing in the group stage, the visitors maintained their hopes of qualifying, while the hosts were eliminated from the competition after placing third in their Champions League group.
Preview (Braga vs. Qarabag FK)
Braga, who lost in the Champions League group stage just before the year began. They will be playing on the continent again on Thursday. They hoping to earn a spot in the Europa League round of 16. Os Arcebispos qualified for Europe’s top competition after finishing third in the Primeira Liga the previous season and winning a thrilling playoff match. They were placed in a difficult group with Real Madrid, Napoli, and Union Berlin. They were only able to secure four points from their six games.
Braga lost in the Champions League group stage just before the year began. They will be playing on the continent again on Thursday. They hoping to earn a spot in the Europa League round of 16. Os Arcebispos qualified for Europe’s top competition after finishing third in the Primeira Liga the previous season and winning a thrilling playoff match. They were placed in a difficult group with Real Madrid, Napoli, and Union Berlin and were only able to secure four points from their six games.
Following that victory, Artur Jorge’s team has experienced a slightly more difficult run in the Primeira Liga. They first had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Chaves and then managed to defeat Moreirense 1-0 at home. With 1-0 wins over Molde and Hacken, Gurban Gurbanov’s team had a dream start to the group stage. However, following two losses to Bayer Leverkusen and a draw in the rematch against Molde, their hopes of finishing in second place were in jeopardy going into the final round of games.
Team News
Due to injury, Braga will be without winger Bruma on Thursday. Artur Jorge may decide to make multiple changes to the starting lineup following Sporting Lisbon’s crushing defeat the previous game. After playing for the DR Congo at the Africa Cup of Nations, Simon Banza should start at the front of the line again. He has scored 14 goals in 15 Primeira Liga games this season. Pizzi will look to replace Rodrigo Zalazar and join Ricardo Horta and Alvaro Djalo in supporting the lone striker.
In the engine room, Vitor Carvalho will look to reunite with the seasoned Joao Moutinho. Shikou Niakate might replace Jose Fonte with Paulo Oliveira in a back four. Marko Vesovic, a defender, will serve a suspension for receiving a red card in their final Europa League group-stage encounter against Hacken, therefore Qarabag will not be able to call him on Thursday.
Matheus Silva will undoubtedly start on the right side of a back four in his absence, with Babul Mustafazada and Badavi Guseynov manning the middle of the defense. Juninho, who has already scored 19 goals this season across all competitions, will once again lead their line in a 4-2-3-1 configuration. Leandro Andrade, Yassine Benzia, and Abdullah Zoubir form a dangerous trio in support.
Braga 3-0 Qarabag FK
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