Braga-Qarabag is a match valid for the first leg of the play-offs for access to the round of 16 of the Europa League and is played on Thursday at 9 p.m.: TV, probable formations, predictions.
It tried until the very last, Braga, but last fall failed to take advantage of Napoli’s woes and undermine the Azzurri in the race for second place in the Champions League group, dominated by Real Madrid. The Portuguese, who finished in third place ahead of disastrous Union Berlin, will continue their continental adventure in the Europa League: to enter the round of 16, however, they will first have to overcome one of the runners-up from the group stage of the less prestigious competition, in this case Qarabag.
The Azerbaijanis proved superior to both Molde of Norway and Hacken of Sweden, who both finished behind Gurban Gurbanov’s men. Ten points won in six games by Qarabag: it surrendered only to the irrepressible Bayer Leverkusen, first with full points. A good result for the club, which as usual is dominating its league: there is no one in Azerbaijan who can counter Qarabag, at the moment +17 over second-placed Sumqayit. A streak of ten consecutive victories, meanwhile, came to an end over the weekend: perhaps distracted by their upcoming European engagement, Juninho Vieira and co. slowed down, drawing 3-3 with Sabah.
Qarabag did not start off beaten
Night to forget instead for Braga, overwhelmed with goals (5-0) in Lisbon by leading Sporting. Figure to be filed away as soon as possible for the red-and-whites, who are currently fourth, -5 from third-placed Porto.
The Warriors in the last two months have surrendered to the three teams ahead of them in the standings (Porto, Benfica and Sporting), confirming the distance that currently separates them from the big names in the Lusitanian league. Braga will therefore try to redeem themselves in the Europa League, although they will most likely have to do without Congolese Banza, one of the best players (14 goals in Liga Portugal), who recently returned from the African Cup of Nations. Qarabag, on the other hand, will be without Vesovic, who was sent off in the match with Hacken.
The prediction
Braga favored but will have to pay attention to Qarabag, a team that has now an established experience in European cups and will face the Portuguese without reverential fears. It cannot be ruled out that the Azeris will manage to score at least one goal.
The probable lineups of Braga-Qarabag
BRAGA (4-2-3-1): Matheus; Gomez, Niakaté, Oliveira, Borja; Vitor Carvalho, Moutinho; Djaló, Pizzi, R. Horta; Abel Ruiz.
QARABAG (4-2-3-1): Lunyov; Silva, Mustafazada, Guseynov, Cafarguliyev; Romao, Jankovic; Andrade, Benzia, Zoubir; Juninho.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
