Braga take on the visitors Panathinaikos in the first leg of UEFA Champions League qualification finals. The match will be played on Wednesday, August 23rd at Estádio Municipal de Braga (Braga).
Braga have legitimate hopes for success. In recent decades, the Archbishops have established themselves among Portugal's top quartet of teams. Typically, they secure the 4th place, finishing behind the usual trio of giants. However, they occasionally claim domestic cup titles and sometimes, as in the previous season, challenge those leading clubs. Thanks to their third-place finish in Primeira Liga 2022/2023, under the guidance of Artur Jorge, they have now returned to the Champions League qualification. In the previous round, they faced, perhaps, the easiest of all possible opponents – a Serbian debutant, Bačka Topola. They eventually defeated them twice, first 3-0 at home and then 4-1 away (with the away match being effectively settled by the 20th minute). In both matches, their usual leaders, Bruma, Pizzi, and Jalloh, found the net.
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Panathinaikos surprised with their presence in this round. The Clover couldn't regain the champion's title even in the past season. Their chances were higher than ever in recent years, given the slump of the usual favorite, Olympiacos. Leading after the main round of the Greek championship, they ultimately yielded to a neighbor and another representative of Athens – AEK – in the final pulse. But what Ivan Jovanović managed to achieve was at least returning to the Champions League qualification. The strengthened team managed to overcome 2 rounds. Success was expected against Dnipro-1, who, like all Ukrainians, can't truly host home matches. They progressed by winning in the home leg and playing a 2-2 draw at home. However, the Greeks spoiled Marcelino's debut at Marseille. After a 1-0 victory at home, they conceded twice at the Vélodrome. But then, they secured their progress first with a penalty goal in the 9th added minute and later won the penalty shootout.
Braga and Panathinaikos have fairly regularly encountered each other in European competitions. However, they haven't crossed paths before this. The Greeks are good, but they are playing on the field of an experienced opponent in excellent form. Let's take the risk and believe in a victory for the Portuguese side on their home turf.
Prediction for the match: Braga to win.
