Best odds: 23/10
Bookmaker:
Defending a delicate 2-1 advantage from the initial leg of their Champions League qualifying play-off tie, Braga faces the challenging journey to Greece for the return fixture against Panathinaikos on Tuesday.
Almost securing a two-goal lead to carry into Athens, Artur Jorge s team was mere moments away from achieving that goal. However, a last-minute reply from Panathinaikos has offered the Greek powerhouse a significant opportunity for redemption.
Panathinaikos
After their thrilling penalty-shootout victory over Marseille in the third round, Panathinaikos had a full eight days to rest and recover before facing Braga at Estadio Municipal. Ivan Jovanovic s team managed to hold off their opponents until the halftime whistle.
However, the solid defense of the Shamrock was eventually breached as Abel Ruiz found the net, followed by Alvaro Djalo extending Braga s lead. Despite the odds, Daniel Mancini provided a potentially crucial response by reducing the deficit with five minutes of injury time remaining.
Although the abolished away goals rule won t be in their favor on Tuesday night, Panathinaikos remains far from being out of the competition. Their recent 3-0 victory over Volos in the Greek Super League served as excellent preparation for the upcoming continental clash. Goals from Adam Gnezda Cerin, Fotis Ioannidis, and Benjamin Verbic ensured a positive start to their new domestic campaign. Notably, the Shamrock has remained undefeated in their Athens stronghold for 12 games since a 3-0 defeat to PAOK in January.
Should they successfully overturn their first-leg deficit, Panathinaikos would secure a spot in the draw for the Champions League group stage for the first time since the 2010/11 season. Even if the odds are not in their favor, a return to Europa League football after a seven-year absence would still mark significant progress for Jovanovic s team.
Team News
Without any injury concerns following their first-leg defeat, Panathinaikos manager Jovanovic had the advantage of making several changes for their league opener over the weekend. Fortunately, his team emerged from the match without any new fitness issues once more.
While both Verbic and Mancini found the back of the net for the team in the past week, fellow forward Sebastian Palacios was substituted out in both the matches against Braga and Volos, without making a direct impact on scoring. As a result, his position in the lineup could be under significant threat.
Ioannidis has also presented a strong case to potentially replace Andraz Sporar in the leading role of the attack. Furthermore, a return to the number 10 position seems appropriate for Filip Djuricic, as former Everton winger Bernard returns to the role of substitute.
Braga
In contrast, Braga are accustomed to playing in the Europa League on Thursday nights, as they have participated in the secondary continental tournament for the past four seasons. However, they are now on the brink of a return to the Champions League.
Jorge s team handled their Serbian opponents, Backa Topola, with ease in the third qualifying round, securing an impressive 7-1 aggregate victory. They also managed to recover from a slow start in their Primeira Liga campaign before overcoming Panathinaikos in the previous week, securing a 4-2 triumph away at Chaves.
While their upcoming adversaries were occupied with domestic matters over the weekend, Braga has had the advantage of a break from Primeira Liga action, allowing them to prepare meticulously for their demanding journey to Athens. Additionally, history seems to be favoring them in this contest.
Indeed, Braga s only two appearances in the Champions League group stage have come through the qualifying route. They triumphed over Sevilla with a 5-3 aggregate score at this stage in 2010, and two years later, they secured a nerve-wracking penalty-shootout victory over Udinese. It s best, however, not to delve too deeply into their subsequent group-stage records on those occasions.
Team News
Braga coach Jorge found himself compelled to make an unplanned early substitution during the first leg of the previous week. Midfielder Al-Musrati was only able to last 36 minutes before being replaced, seemingly due to a foot sprain sustained from a tackle.
As of now, the seriousness of Al-Musrati s injury is yet to be confirmed. It remains uncertain whether he will be able to join his teammates for the trip to Athens. In the event of his absence, Andre Horta might step in to partner with Vitor Carvalho in the double pivot position.
The brother of Andre, Ricardo Horta, a longstanding forward and captain of the team, played a crucial role in the first leg by providing assists for both of Braga s goals. This performance brought his total assists to four in the Champions League qualifying rounds. However, despite his contributions, the 28-year-old is still awaiting his first goal at the top-tier European level.
Conclusion
Not having Al-Musrati in their ranks would be a significant blow for Braga, but they are still likely to return from Greece undefeated and book a place in the group stages of the Champions League.
Verdict: Draw
Best odds: 23/10
Bookmaker:
