Portugal’s Sporting Braga take a two-goal lead into their Europa League second leg match against Brondby. The Portuguese team also has the benefit of four away goals from the first leg.
Brondby must tally three goals without reply to go through to the Europa League third qualifying round. It seems like a nearly impossible feat for the Danish team to complete.
In the first leg, the Danish club got off to an early lead in the 15th minute through Dominik Kaiser. Braga then scored twice in the next five minutes. Brondby equalised in the 50th minute before conceding two goals in second-half stoppage-time.
It is those two late goals that will most likely see Brondby dumped out of the competition on Thursday night. Playing away in Portugal won’t be easy for Niels Frederiksen’s team. Brondby have not won any of their two away legs in this season’s Europa League qualifying.
Brondby played Finland’s Inter Turku in the Europa League first qualifying round winning the tie 4-3 on aggregate. They failed to score away from home and lost 2-0. In the second qualifying round, Brondby lost the away leg 2-1 to Lechia Gdansk. They won the tie 5-3, however.
Braga entered the Europa League at the third qualifying round stage. The Archbishops kicked off their domestic campaign at the weekend with a 3-1 over Moreirense. Braga are in good form to start the season.
Brondby also won at the weekend in the Danish Super League, but their form has been rather inconsistent to begin the domestic season. The Boys from Vestegnen did win versus Hobro 2-0 over the weekend to be third in the Danish Super League.
The second leg should see a similar trend to that of the first leg’s first half. The opening 45 minutes ended 2-1. Braga’s third and fourth goals came thanks to late goals, one of which was an own goal. Braga are a bit fortunate to go into the second leg up two goals.
Brondby are a major underdog at 9/2 according to leading sportsbooks. Braga are 4/9 to win at home on Thursday night.
Like the first leg, the Thursday’s return match should see over 2.5 goals with both teams scoring. Braga will come away with a home victory and progress to the Europa League playoff round.
💬 Sequeira: "Sabemos que o futebol é cheio de surpresas e não queremos ser surpreendidos. Temos uma vantagem boa mas isso não nos garante nada. Temos de entrar com uma mentalidade vencedora".#UEL #SCBBIF pic.twitter.com/0bmNvS5TU2— SC Braga (@SCBragaOficial) August 14, 2019
💬 Sequeira: "Sabemos que o futebol é cheio de surpresas e não queremos ser surpreendidos. Temos uma vantagem boa mas isso não nos garante nada. Temos de entrar com uma mentalidade vencedora".#UEL #SCBBIF pic.twitter.com/0bmNvS5TU2
The winner of Thursday night’s clash will take on either Spartak Moscow or FC Thun in the playoff round. Braga have a foot in the next round and will put the second in the playoff stage with a win on Thursday night.