Braga vs Qarabag prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2024-02-14 20:00.
After a third-place finish in UEFA Champions League (UCL) Group C, Braga will now aim to prolong their European footballing season via the UEFA Europa League (UEL) knockout round play-offs, where they’ll host the first-leg against Qarabağ. It’s the first time they’ll face-off with a team from Azerbaijan, hoping to embark on a run that will at least mimic their runners-up finish in this tournament in 2010/11.
That season they made their way into the UEL picture in the exact same fashion as this campaign, except they managed to win three of their group games back then (L3) compared to just one this time around (D1, L4). Known as the Arsenalists due to their similar jersey to Arsenal of London, Braga were experiencing an uptick in form having won four of their last five games (D1) before this past weekend, until they ran into Sporting CP who hammered them 5-0 in the Liga Portugal.
Qarabağ know all about taking a mauling from Sporting, as it’s the only Portuguese side they’ve faced before when they clashed in Group E of the 2018/19 UEL, losing 2-0 away and 6-1 at home. Perhaps qualifying for the knockout rounds of the UEL for the first time after seven previous failed attempts will inspire Gurban Gurbanov’s side to new heights, after finishing second behind the unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen in this season’s Group H.
The Horsemen were also in fine form leading up to this tie, having won 12 of 13 games (D1) before losing and drawing their last two matches. They’ll make the trip to Estádio Municipal de Braga as heavy underdogs, but have proved gritty on their European travels this campaign, losing just two of their seven continental away matches (W4, D1).
Players to watch: Braga’s Álvaro Djaló has been on form in Europe this season with five goals, four of which were at home. Qarabağ’s Leandro Andrade is on his tail with four goals in Europe this campaign, and another should bring his team good fortune, considering he’s won 19 of the 20 matches he’s found the net in his career (D1).
Hot streak: Braga were losing at half-time in all six of their UCL group games!