Preview: Braga vs Ferencvaros – prediction, team news, lineups

Panty should overturn a two-objective deficit to maintain their Europa League marketing campaign alive as they welcome Ferencvaros to Estadio Municipal de Braga for the second leg of their spherical of 16 tie on Wednesday.

The Portuguese hosts suffered a 2-0 defeat final Thursday when either side met in Budapest, in what was the primary-ever encounter between the 2 groups.

Match preview

Having gained direct passage to the spherical of 16 following a sixth-place end within the league section, it could not have been probably the most outrageous of expectations from Braga followers to see their team take one thing again dwelling towards a Ferencvaros facet that needed to come by means of the playoffs.

However, the Carlos Vicens-led facet left Budapest empty-handed regardless of having fun with virtually twice as a lot possession because the hosts, with that management counting for little in a match the place each groups registered three pictures on track a bit, however Gabi Kanichowsky and Lenny Joseph produced the decisive strikes of the evening.

That end result means Braga have misplaced two of their 9 video games within the Europa League fundamental stage this season (W5, D2), leaving the 2010-11 finalists with a excessive mountain to climb if they’re to achieve the competitors’s quarter-finals for the primary time since 2015-16.

The Archbishops are, nevertheless, not with no supply of inspiration, having gained every of their final six two-legged ties in UEFA competitors, whereas precedent additionally provides purpose for optimism, because the Minho membership have beforehand overturned a two-objective deficit to progress on this match.

That got here towards Sheriff Tiraspol within the 2021-22 knockout-section playoffs, and Braga is not going to rule themselves out of repeating such a feat even when solely three of their seven victories within the final 9 dwelling video games (D2) have come by a margin of two objectives or extra.

Despite their wholesome benefit, Ferencvaros even have their very own issues, having misplaced 5 of their final eight away matches within the Europa League (W2, D1), with 4 of them coming by a two or extra objective margin.

Another warning signal comes from the truth that the Greens exited the competitors final season regardless of profitable the primary leg of their knockout playoff spherical on their very own turf towards Viktoria Plzen, in the end dropping 3-1 on combination after struggling a 3-0 defeat in Czechia.

With that in thoughts, supervisor Robbie Keane Ahead of Wednesday’s journey to Minho that it’s “going to be really difficult away from home”, however with a wholesome lead over Braga, followers of the Greens would possibly already admit to being entertaining ideas of a historic breakthrough in Europe.

Ferencvaros may change into the primary Hungarian facet to achieve the quarter-finals of any main European competitors for the primary time in 41 years, and so they entered the midweek encounter buoyed by a six-sport profitable run throughout all competitions.

A whopping 17 objectives have been scored by the Greens in that stretch, with three clear sheets and no a couple of objective awarded within the different matches, so it could not be a shock if the guests tried to press dwelling their benefit right here.

Braga Europa League kind:

Braga kind (all competitions):

Ferencvaros Europa League kind:

Ferencvaros kind (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago / ZUMA Press Wire

Braga are anticipated to stay with out heart-again Adrian Barisic, who remains to be recovering from an abductor drawback, whereas midfielder Vitor Carvalho is about to overlook his eighth straight sport.

On a extra optimistic notice, the Portuguese hosts will welcome again Spanish defender Victor Gomez, who missed the primary leg by means of suspension, whereas Amine El Ouazzani could possibly be handed some minutes after getting back from a foot damage as an unused substitute in that encounter.

captain Ricardo Horta can be trying to proceed his spectacular scoring kind on acquainted floor, having discovered the online in every of his final 4 dwelling matches, totaling 5 objectives in that stretch.

Ferencvaros will stay with out Swiss defender Stefan Gartenmann as he continues his lengthy highway again to full health, whereas Bence Otvos is about to overlook a fifth straight outing on account of bodily discomfort.

Manager Keane may also be unable to name upon Norwegian midfielder Kristoffer Zachariassen, who will serve a one-match suspension for an accumulation of bookings.

Braga attainable beginning lineup:

Hornicek; Niakate, Lagerbielke, Arrey-Mbi; V Gomez, Moutinho, Grillitsch, Dorgeles; Zalazar, P Victor, Horta

Ferencvaros attainable beginning lineup:

Grof; Gomez, Raemaekers, Cisse; Makreckis, Madarasz, Kanichowsky, A Fani, O’Dowda; Joseph, Bamidele

We say: Braga 2-0 Ferencvaros (aet, Braga win 3-2 on combination)

Both sides didn’t participate of their respective league fixtures over the weekend, so they need to enter this encounter refreshed after final week’s first-leg assembly in Budapest.

That mentioned, Braga possess a comparatively stronger pedigree on this competitors, and matched with the truth that they’re no strangers to European comebacks, the Archbishops may overturn the deficit in common time, though additional time would possibly nonetheless be required to safe development.

For knowledge evaluation of the almost certainly outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.