Europa League - FC Porto v SC Braga
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
All eyes turn to the Dublin Arena on Wednesday night when FC Porto take on fellow Portuguese side SC Braga in the UEFA Europa League Final (Kick-off 7.45pm). Separated by a mere 47 kilometres, the two sides will take to the Irish pitch as the culmination of a glittering competition comes to a head in the capital.
Braga have defied the odds to reach the final, beating Celtic and Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League, before a determined 1-0 aggregate win over Liverpool in the last 16 of the Europa League. Porto will be the bookie’s favourites however, having just been crowned the Portuguese domestic league champions following an unbeaten 2010/2011 campaign.
Porto hold an impressive grasp on domestic head to head battles between the sides, winning 92 of the 131 encounters. This isn’t the first time they have faced off in a cup final either, with Porto succeeding on both occasions, the most recent of which was in 1998. Porto are no strangers to European finals, winning six of their nine appearances, the most famous of which a 3-0 UEFA Champions League win over Monaco in 2003.
Jose Mourinho was in charge in that final, before the impressive Andre Villas-Boas took the reins. Villas-Boas was safely nestled under the wing of the self-proclaimed ‘Special One’ for many years, as he travelled from Porto to Chelsea, and then to Inter Milan as a scout before taking the leap to manage Académica. The Portuguese manager has guided Porto to an impressive winning streak this year, and hopes to continue in Dublin on Wednesday.
Domingos Paciência will take charge of his first European final against a club he knows from a very young age. Paciência played for Porto on two occasions in a career that also brought 35 caps and 9 goals for Portugal. Finishing fourth in the Portuguese domestic League, the odds will be stacked firmly against his charges, although Paciência has managed to upset the odds on more than one occasion to merely reach the final.
How they reached the final – Porto.
Porto finished top of their group which included; Be?ikta? JK, SK Rapid Wien and CSKA Sofia, following an unbeaten campaign. Two away goals were enough to see Porto past Sevilla in the Round of 32, before a 3-1 aggregate win over CSKA Moscow put them in the draw for the Quarter-Finals.
A remarkable 10-3 aggregate victory over Spartak Moscow, including five from Falcao gave Porto their rightful spot in the Semi-Finals. Star striker Falcao was on hand yet again, as another five goal haul over both legs ensured Porto’s spot in the final thanks to a 7-4 aggregate victory over Villarreal.
How they reached the final – SC Braga.
Braga have become the giant killers in this year’s tournament, beginning their remarkable run win a 4-2 aggregate win over Scottish giants Celtic. Braga needed to surpass Sevilla in the final play-off round in order to reach the UEFA Champions League Group Stages, which they did with a two goal cushion.
Finishing third in their group which included Arsenal sent Braga in to a UEFA Europa League Round of 32 fixture against Lech. A 2-0 home victory was enough to draw an illustrious last 16 draw against Liverpool. Against all odds, Liverpool succumbed to the Portuguese outfit, thanks to a penalty from Alan in the first leg.
An away goal against Dynamo Kiev saw Braga in to an all-Portuguese Semi-Final affair over Benfica. Crucial away goals proved instrumental in this affair, as the eventual winners lost the first leg by 2-1, before winning the home leg by 1-0, granting them their spot in a historic final.
Both sides will believe they are deserved winners of the prestigious trophy, and on the merits shown throughout the campaign, few could argue. If Porto play to their potential, they should run out comfortable winners in the Dublin Arena. But we love cup finals for a reason, as anything could happen. A mere 90 minutes separate little known Braga from a momentous achievement.
Porto FC
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
SC Braga
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (ESP)
Paddy Power Odds: Porto 4/9, Draw 10/3, Braga 13/2
Extratime prediction: Porto should win, although Braga have upset the odds before and could easily do it again. Let’s just hope it is a final that lives up to all the expectations.
Braga have defied the odds to reach the final, beating Celtic and Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League, before a determined 1-0 aggregate win over Liverpool in the last 16 of the Europa League. Porto will be the bookie’s favourites however, having just been crowned the Portuguese domestic league champions following an unbeaten 2010/2011 campaign.
Porto hold an impressive grasp on domestic head to head battles between the sides, winning 92 of the 131 encounters. This isn’t the first time they have faced off in a cup final either, with Porto succeeding on both occasions, the most recent of which was in 1998. Porto are no strangers to European finals, winning six of their nine appearances, the most famous of which a 3-0 UEFA Champions League win over Monaco in 2003.
Jose Mourinho was in charge in that final, before the impressive Andre Villas-Boas took the reins. Villas-Boas was safely nestled under the wing of the self-proclaimed ‘Special One’ for many years, as he travelled from Porto to Chelsea, and then to Inter Milan as a scout before taking the leap to manage Académica. The Portuguese manager has guided Porto to an impressive winning streak this year, and hopes to continue in Dublin on Wednesday.
Domingos Paciência will take charge of his first European final against a club he knows from a very young age. Paciência played for Porto on two occasions in a career that also brought 35 caps and 9 goals for Portugal. Finishing fourth in the Portuguese domestic League, the odds will be stacked firmly against his charges, although Paciência has managed to upset the odds on more than one occasion to merely reach the final.
How they reached the final – Porto.
Porto finished top of their group which included; Be?ikta? JK, SK Rapid Wien and CSKA Sofia, following an unbeaten campaign. Two away goals were enough to see Porto past Sevilla in the Round of 32, before a 3-1 aggregate win over CSKA Moscow put them in the draw for the Quarter-Finals.
A remarkable 10-3 aggregate victory over Spartak Moscow, including five from Falcao gave Porto their rightful spot in the Semi-Finals. Star striker Falcao was on hand yet again, as another five goal haul over both legs ensured Porto’s spot in the final thanks to a 7-4 aggregate victory over Villarreal.
How they reached the final – SC Braga.
Braga have become the giant killers in this year’s tournament, beginning their remarkable run win a 4-2 aggregate win over Scottish giants Celtic. Braga needed to surpass Sevilla in the final play-off round in order to reach the UEFA Champions League Group Stages, which they did with a two goal cushion.
Finishing third in their group which included Arsenal sent Braga in to a UEFA Europa League Round of 32 fixture against Lech. A 2-0 home victory was enough to draw an illustrious last 16 draw against Liverpool. Against all odds, Liverpool succumbed to the Portuguese outfit, thanks to a penalty from Alan in the first leg.
An away goal against Dynamo Kiev saw Braga in to an all-Portuguese Semi-Final affair over Benfica. Crucial away goals proved instrumental in this affair, as the eventual winners lost the first leg by 2-1, before winning the home leg by 1-0, granting them their spot in a historic final.
Both sides will believe they are deserved winners of the prestigious trophy, and on the merits shown throughout the campaign, few could argue. If Porto play to their potential, they should run out comfortable winners in the Dublin Arena. But we love cup finals for a reason, as anything could happen. A mere 90 minutes separate little known Braga from a momentous achievement.
Porto FC
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
SC Braga
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (ESP)
Paddy Power Odds: Porto 4/9, Draw 10/3, Braga 13/2
Extratime prediction: Porto should win, although Braga have upset the odds before and could easily do it again. Let’s just hope it is a final that lives up to all the expectations.
About Aidan Farrelly
Aidan Farrelly joined the extratime team in mid 2010. A Kildare native, Aidan reports on St. Patrick's Athletic as well as other Dublin Clubs. Aidan can be contacted at: farrelly.aidan@gmail.com View Full Profile