The 2019/20 UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds conclude on Thursday night as teams aim to reach the group stages.
There are several matches to enjoy and one of the most closely fought could come at the Otkrytiye Arena in Russia as Spartak Moscow play host to Braga.
The first leg ended 1-0 in favour of the Portuguese last week. Ricardo Horta scored the only goal of the game in the 74th minute and that was enough to seal the win. Will Spartak Moscow be left to regret failing to score an away goal?
Spartak Moscow’s domestic league season is well underway in Russia. They currently sit second in the Russian Premier League, although there are five teams all with the same number of points at the top of the table.
Recent form shows Spartak Moscow have lost only one of their last seven games in all competitions. There have been five wins, two of which have come in the Europa League and three in the Russian League. Following the narrow loss in Braga last week, Spartak Moscow defeated Krylya Sovetov 2-1 away from home.
Trends show Spartak Moscow are undefeated in three of their last four home Europa League matches. They have won two of those games, 4-3 over Rangers and 2-1 against Thun, the latter of which was this season.
Both teams have scored in eight of Spartak Moscow’s last nine home Europa League games.
Braga are three games into their new domestic season in Portugal and sit sixth in the table, with 4 points from three games. Having defeated Spartak Moscow in the first leg of this tie, Braga were held to a 1-1 draw at Gil Vicente in the Primeira Liga.
Trends show Braga have played six competitive games this season and have lost only one. The defeat came in the Portuguese league against Sporting Lisbon, so it was not a shock loss. They have played three matches in the Europa League, defeating Brondby both home and away in the third qualifying round and winning the first leg of this tie.
Braga have lost just two of their last ten away Europa League matches. The draw has been their most popular result, with games having finished level five times. Braga have seen both teams score in nine of their last ten away Europa League matches.
Team news and Spartak Moscow have no new injury concerns ahead of this game. They are likely to play 4-2-3-1, with Ezequiel Ponce leading the line.
Braga have doubts over Araujo Ferreira Ricardo and Raúl Michel Melo da Silva. although the latter is back in training following a knee injury.
Gverreiros nas ☁, mas com os 👟👟 bem assentes na terra: dar tudo o que temos pela passagem na #UEL!Rússia, já chegámos! 🛬 ➡ 🇷🇺 pic.twitter.com/YGLytDFFrA— SC Braga (@SCBragaOficial) August 27, 2019
Gverreiros nas ☁, mas com os 👟👟 bem assentes na terra: dar tudo o que temos pela passagem na #UEL!Rússia, já chegámos! 🛬 ➡ 🇷🇺 pic.twitter.com/YGLytDFFrA
The previous results of both teams in the Europa League suggests we are going to see both teams score. That’s bad news for Spartak Moscow who failed to score in Portugal and we could see a draw, with both teams scoring. That would be enough to send Braga through to the Europa League group stage.