Panathinaikos aiming to overturn Sporting Braga’s narrow UCL playoff lead
Panathinaikos vs Sporting Braga - 29/08/2023
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Greece’s Panathinaikos will host Portugal’s Sporting Braga on Tuesday night in the second leg of their Champions League playoff round tie.
Braga won the first leg 2-1 at home and are now aiming to finish the job in Athens. The Bishops were in control for much of the match, as Abel Ruiz scored in the 51st minute. Alvaro Djalo added a second goal just over 20 minutes later.
With Braga heading for a 2-0 win, Panathinaikos pulled a goal back in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time. Daniel Mancini scored to give Panathinaikos hope of a comeback at home in the second leg.
The Portuguese team dominated most of the match, tallying 16 shots to eight. Braga also kept 54% possession during the fixture.
Following the loss in Braga, Panathinaikos returned to the Greek Super League and won 3-0 versus Volos NPS. Benjamin Verbic, Fotis Ioannidis, and Adam Cerin all got onto the scoresheet for Panathinaikos.
Manager Ivan Jovanovic has a healthy squad going into the match. No injuries were reported in the wake of the win over Volos NPS. Jovanovic used a 4-2-3-1 formation at the weekend and should continue with it against Braga.
The manager rotated the forward line against Volos, starting Verbic and Ioannidis. Mancini should come back into the side against Braga in the second leg.
However, Jovanovic could stick with Ioannidis rather than starting Andraz Sporar like in the first leg.
Sporting Braga did not play domestically at the weekend. The team was given the weekend off to prepare for the second leg against Panathinaikos.
Will it come back to haunt them?
Manager Artur Jorge also uses a 4-2-3-1 formation. Ruiz should start in attack once more after scoring in the first leg. Ricardo Horta leads the team with two goals this season. He should start on the right wing. Bruma will likely start on the left side. He arrived for €6.5 million in the offseason.
Braga have not played in the Champions League group stage since 2012-13. A win or draw against Panathinaikos would send them into the group stage.
Panathinaikos, on the other hand, must improve compared to the first leg. The Greeks waited too late to get onto the scoresheet.
Playing in Athens should help Panathinaikos in the second leg. It should be a hostile environment when Braga come to town. The scoreline may have flattered Panathinaikos somewhat in the first leg. Can they overturn the tie in the second match?
Sporting Braga should see off Panathinaikos in the second leg to qualify for the Champions League group stage. The Bishops should win 1-0 in a nervy away fixture.
Home team
Away team
Pred
Correct score
Avg. goals
Weather conditions
Coef.
Score
Live
coef.
UCL
283042
2
0 - 1
2.46
30°
2.70
2.45
3.50
2.70
no
no
no
0 - 1(0 - 0)
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