Arouca take on the visitors Brann in the first leg of UEFA Conference League qualification semifinals. The match will be played on Thursday, August 10th at Estádio Municipal de Arouca (Arouca).
Arouca managed to repeat their best historical result. In 2016, under Lito Vidigal, Arouquenses secured the top 5 position in the Primeira Liga. It was then that they made their debut in European competitions. Taking advantage of the away goal rule, they advanced against the Dutch side Heracles (0-0 at home, 1-1 away), only to be eliminated by the more established opponent, Olympiacos. However, simultaneously in the national championship, they only achieved the relegation spot, finishing 17th. Eventually, they found themselves in the third division for a year during the lowest point. Nonetheless, they managed to return to the top flight in 2021, and in the previous cycle, only the quartet of perennial leaders was above them - so expecting more might be unrealistic.
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Brann managed to qualify for European competitions while representing the second division of Norway. The Reds are three-time champions of the country and often secured the cup as well. However, in 2021, they faced relegation from the Eliteserien. They immediately bounced back and, impressively, won the domestic cup for the 7th time in their history. Interestingly, despite the summer losses, the newcomers have shown promise. This provides them with the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities in the Conference League. In the past, Scandinavians managed to progress from the group stage in the UEFA Cup during the 2007/2008 season and even reached the playoffs. However, their most recent attempt was in 2019, where they were defeated by Shamrock Rovers.
This is only the second time that the Portuguese team starts in European competitions. They have never played against a Norwegian team before. The Portuguese team is playing at home, which outweighs the opponent's experience in official matches. We are betting on the home team's victory.
Prediction for the match: Arouca to win.
