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| Tuesday, 28 August 2012 09:45 |
Another golden chapter in the Braga story?Arsenalistas aim to clinch Champions League qualification Braga play Udinese in Italy tonight, striving to provide further evidence that they are a club that do not look out of place rubbing shoulders with Europe’s elite. José Peseiro’s team take on the Serie A side needing to score at least one goal, having drawn the first leg 1-1 at the Quarry last week.
The rise of Braga as a genuine force in the Liga ZON Sagres has been one of the most positive changes to occur in Portuguese football over the last decade. In 2009/10 the northern club pushed a brilliant Benfica team all the way in a thrilling title race, eventually succumbing to their more storied rivals from the capital and finishing runners-up in the final round of matches of the season.
That remarkable achievement was arguably bettered the following season, as Braga first gave a creditable display in the Champions League group stages (won 3, lost 3), before embarking on a run to the final of the Europa League, where they narrowly lost to André Villas-Boas’s rampant FC Porto. In that exhilarating European season Braga knocked out the likes of Liverpool, Dynamo Kiev and Benfica – all clubs of incomparably greater resources.
The success has not altered the mantra of Braga president, António Salvador, who has quietly built the squad with astutue and inexpensive acquisitions.
Portuguese coreA recent nuance in this policy has involved purchasing Portuguese internationals who did not quite make it at Portugal’s traditional powerhouses – FC Porto, Benfica and Sporting. Hugo Viana, Hélder Barbosa, Beto, Rúben Amorim and Rúben Micael all fall into that category. This high-quality group of players no doubt feel they have something to prove, and Braga are duly reaping the benefits, as shown by the way they acquitted themselves in the season opener at Benfica – a hard-fought 2-2 draw.
Unable to command the same level of sponsorships, TV money or fan-based income as their domestic rivals, Braga’s ability to continue competing with Portugal’s finest will be significantly boosted if they can secure Champions League money for the second time in three seasons.
“We are here to get into the group phase. It will be another important landmark in the history of the club,” said coach José Peseiro, in his pre-match press conference. “What Braga have achieved in the recent past also gives us the notion that we have what it takes to qualify.”
Similar match?An even match can be expected. Braga can consider themselves unlucky not to be taking a lead to Italy after dominating for lengthy periods in a highly entertaining 1-1 draw at the AXA Stadium last Wednesday, although Udinese were rewarded for their incisive counter-attacking football. Peseiro does not expect a radical change in the pattern of the match tonight, and can call on what should be a fresh set of players after resting half a dozen regular starters in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Beira-Mar.
“We will be making no significant changes. We will have our strategy in view of what happened in the first game. There are aspects we have been working on to improve, both in the mental and strategic approach. We want to be more assertive in the way we play.” Probable Braga starting XI:
Beto, Salino, Douglão, Paulo Vinícius, Ismaily, Custódio, Hugo Viana, Mossoró, Rúben Micael, Alan, Lima
Tom Kundert
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I am hoping for a win today and to watch the contiuned growth of this club!
GO BRAGA!!
Just advance.
No excuses.
I already didn't like reading in the paper how Europa wouldn't be the end of the world.
Not good enough.
I do agree that Braga has been in a bit of a golden era with making the CL playoffs two times now and continually pushing for that CL spot. Given the instability at Sporting and the 3rd CL spot, Braga has a chance to continue to qualify for the CL. Since they’ve been smart with their spending, their financial status continues to get stronger.
However to make this a true golden era Braga need titles, I’m not calling for a CL title but they should at the very least get some domestic cups. If years from now they have nothing to show for these runs, the era won’t be that great when compared to Belenenses in the 20’s to 40s, Setubal in the 60’s & 2 cups in the 2000’s, & Boavista in the late 90’s to early 00’s.
Braga already have a runners up in the Liga and EL, if they can get a couple of domestic cups Taca or League Cup, that would put this as an official golden era for years to come.