FC Porto vs. SC Braga – UEFA Europa League Final Preview
Aviva Stadium, Dublin will see an all-Portuguese final of UEFA Europa League on May 18, 2011. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/SC-Braga-c40460 might have crossed paths in the leagues many a times but this will be the first time the two sides meet in the Europa League. Though the two
clubs are not far away from each other, the two couldn’t be more different in terms of style and history.
Andre Villas-Boas, the mercurial Porto coach, has constructed an attacking side that is built around a hard-working midfield, a group of players who simply romped their way past other Portuguese sides to lift the domestic title without losing a single game.
In Europe, the only time Porto tasted defeat was in the second leg of the semi-final when they lost 3-2 to Villarreal at El Madrigal. However, that defeat mattered little to the Dragoes as they had already wrapped up the two-legged semi-final by defeating
Villarreal 5-1 at Estadio Dragao.
In his first season with the outfit, Boas has changed the fortunes of the club that could only finish third in the Portuguese league last season. His instant success at the club has already earned him comparisons with former Porto coach, Jose Mourinho. The
33-year-old Boas is now closer to becoming the youngest manager to lift a European trophy. Mourinho won the UEFA Cup, the forerunner of the Europa League in 2003 and then lifted the Champions League in 2004. Is it going to be the same story this time around,
the start of a new era? Only time can tell but one thing is for certain! The current Porto side is regarded as the most dangerous attacking side in Europe right now and will be giving Braga a hard time when the two teams take the field.
Heading into this game, Porto are clear favourites but counting out Braga would be a big mistake. The Minhotos have performed more than one giant-killing feat in the Europa League this season. Domingos Paciência’s men beat http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809, and then Benfica in
the semi-final to surprise the rest of Europe as they qualified for the final of the competition. Braga arrived in the Europa League after crashing out of the Champions League this season. However, the Minhotos beat http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429, Seville and Celtic in the competition
before coming to the Europa League. Paciência has done a great http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Job-c18684 with the Arsenalistas. A solid backline with South American flair in front, the formula has done wonders for Paciência, so a one-sided encounter cannot be expected.
Porto Player to watch – http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Radamel-Falcao-c30276
The Colombian International has been scoring goals for fun both in Europe and in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Portugal-c2984 this season. The 25-year-old has already scored 16 goals in the Europa League this season, including the stunning four-goal haul against Villarreal in the first-leg
of the semi-final which the Dragoes won 5-1. His goal-scoring exploits have already made him a fan favourite but as a vice-captain, he has taken a lot of responsibility in leading the attack. Marking him will be a tough job for Braga.
Braga player to watch – Hugo Viana
Though Brazilian http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Hugo-Viana-c16425 that has made Braga such a deadly and potent attacking side. The former Newcastle United man has regained his place in the starting
XI under Paciência. The 28-year-old is also good at set-pieces and it was his free-kick that set up http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vandinho-c35895 to score a goal against Benfica in the semi-final.
Prediction
FC Porto have been a joy to watch this season. In the semi-final against Villarreal, the Dragoes showed that their journey to the final of the Europa League was no fluke as they beat the Spanish side 7-4 on aggregate. Against Braga, they might find going
a bit tricky but it is likely that Boas’ side will be lifting the Europa League by the end of the 90 minutes.
Predicted final score: Porto 3-1 Braga
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