Europa League
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Played
November 30, 2011 6:00 PM GMT
Estádio AXA — Braga
Referee:‬ M. Strömbergsson‎
Attendance:‬ 9957‎
 
51′ Hugo Viana
 

Braga - Birmingham Preview: Blues looking to put themselves within touching distance of Europa League knockout stages

Chris Hughton's men out to get something from the game at the Estádio Municipal de Braga to keep them in contention, while their opponents can secure qualification with a win

By John Stammers

More On :  Birmingham City, Braga, Braga vs Birmingham City
Chris Hughton, Birmingham City
Getty Images

 PROBABLE LINEUPS

BRAGA

Quim
Santos, Baiano, Nascimento, Douglao
Merida, Mahamat Bindi, Viana
Barbosa, Lima, Alan
BIRMINGHAM

Myhill
Carr, Murphy, Caldwell, Spector
Davies, Burke, Beausejour, Elliott, Fahey
King
Birmingham have no fresh injury worries, with Nikola Zigic making his return from the sidelines to score against Blackpool on Saturday. It is likely that Chris Hughton will name an un-changed side from the draw at the weekend, with the Serbian on the bench.

As for Braga, they will probably make a couple of changes from the side who lost 3-2 to Porto in the league on Sunday. Baiano should slot back into the back four, with Helder Barbosa, who scored two against the championship outfit last time they met, likely to return as part of an attacking trio.

 DID YOU KNOW?
  • The hosts are ranked 53rd on the Uefa index, whereas Birmingham were booted off for their relegation from the Premier League, despite still competing in Europe through the League Cup.
  • Birmingham have scored seven goals in the group so far, six of which have been in the second half.
  • If Blues net three goals in the game, they will have scored the 100th goal in Uefa club competitions in just 86 games.
  • Birmingham striker Zigic (pictured right), formally of Valencia, Racing Santander and Red Star Belgrade, has scored a decent 20 goals in 36 European appearances. He also scored the equaliser against Blackpool at the weekend.
  • The sides have only ever met once before, in the first tie, where Braga became the only side to beat Birmingham at St Andrew's in Europe, with a 3-1 result.
  • Braga can qualify for the knockout stages with a win against the English side on the head-to-head rule.
  • Sporting have won, and not conceded in, their last three home games against English opponents. They won 3-0 against Portsmouth, 2-0 against Arsenal and 1-0 against Liverpool.
  • The Portuguese side are known as Arsenal de Minho, and share the Gunners' colours due to a former owner and coach that supported the north London club, the side who Birmingham beat in the League Cup final last season to qualify for the Europa League.
  • Braga played, and lost to, Porto in last year's Europa League final, a game which recorded the shortest distance between European finalists at 47km.
  • Braga's striker Helder Barbosa is currently joint third top scorer in the competition, on three goals.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Braga 2-0 Birmingham City
    18.06 %
  • Braga 2-1 Birmingham City
    16.2 %
  • Braga 1-0 Birmingham City
    11.57 %
Head to Head
Europa League ‎(EL)‎ 30 Nov 2011 Braga 1 - Birmingham City 0
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  • Match Report
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Europa League ‎(EL)‎ 15 Sep 2011 Birmingham City 1 - Braga 3
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Last Five Matches
Braga
12 May 2012Sporting CP 3 - Braga 2POR1
5 May 2012Braga 1 - Beira-Mar 0POR1
27 Apr 2012Braga 1 - SC Olhanense 2POR1
20 Apr 2012Paços Ferreira 1 - Braga 1POR1
7 Apr 2012Braga 0 - Porto 1POR1
Birmingham City
6 Mar 2012Birmingham City 0 - Chelsea FC 2FA
18 Feb 2012Chelsea FC 1 - Birmingham City 1FA
7 Feb 2012Birmingham City 1 - Portsmouth 0ENG2
28 Jan 2012Sheffield United 0 - Birmingham City 4FA
18 Jan 2012Wolves 0 - Birmingham City 1FA
Odds
Returns: Braga £15.20 188bet Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game
Returns: Draw £110.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Birmingham City £660.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Team News
Available Squads
1QuimGoalkeeper
5Ewerton Jose Almeida SantosDefender
26Paulo Vinícius de Souza NascimentoDefender
20Uwa Elderson EchiejileDefender
22Djamal Abdoulaye Mahamat BindiMidfielder
45Hugo VianaMidfielder
25Leandro SalinoMidfielder
8Marcio MossoroGoalkeeper
30AlanStriker
10Helder BarbosaMidfielder
18LimaStriker
32Tommaso BerniGoalkeeper
-Rodrigo GaloDefender
44DouglãoDefender
11Fran MéridaMidfielder
-Nuno Daniel Costeira ValenteMidfielder
9Rocha Paulo CesarStriker
21Nuno GomesStriker
1Boaz MyhillGoalkeeper
24Curtis DaviesDefender
3David MurphyDefender
8Guirane N'DawDefender
23Jonathan SpectorMidfielder
4Steven CaldwellDefender
7Chris BurkeMidfielder
11Jean BeausejourMidfielder
18Keith FaheyMidfielder
15Wade ElliottMidfielder
19Nikola ZigicStriker
13Colin DoyleGoalkeeper
5Pablo IbáñezDefender
14Morgaro GomisMidfielder
9Marlon KingStriker
17Adam RooneyStriker
22Nathan RedmondMidfielder
20Chris WoodStriker
Players to Watch
Alan
Alan
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 30
Games Goals YC RC
10 1 3 0
The Brazilian has flourished since moving to Braga from Porto.

He is a tricky winger who has enjoyed scoring goals in the big games for his club. In Braga's best ever domestic campaign in the 09/10 season he scored against Sporting Lisbon in a 2-1 away win and got the only goal in a win at home to former club Porto. In 2008, the 32-year-old scored against Portsmouth in a 3-0 win.

He will probably play as part of a three-pronged attack.
Nikola Zigic
Nikola Zigic
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 19
Games Goals YC RC
5 0 2 0
The huge forward, standing at 6ft 7, has a good goalscoring record in Europe, having played in the Champions League for his past clubs.

The Serbian made his return from injury, and came off the bench to score, during the draw against Blackpool in the Championship at the weekend, so will be looking to continue this form.

He is an obvious areal threat and, even if he doesn't make the starting lineup, he will be a useful outlet for holding up the ball in a game which is likely to see the home side have the greater share of possession, offering something different from Marlon King.
Prediction
This is a massive game for both sides as they, and Club Brugge, are  level on seven points with two games left. Braga can confirm their place in the knockout rounds with a win.

Birmingham are to play Maribor at home in their last game, which they should be looking to win, so a decent result here will put them in a good position to qualify. Although a win is not essential for the Midlands team, they will want to avoid defeat so that the pressure is not all on the last game.

Braga lost their last game 3-2 against reigning Europa League champions Porto, on Sunday, and will be looking to get back on track with a win against City. They have been inconsistent at home in the tournament, having beat Maribor 5-1 but losing 2-1 to Brugge.

Expect this to be a close, tension-filled encounter, with Birmingham setting out cautiously and Braga going for the win that will see them qualify for the next round. However, Hughton's men have been good away from home in the competition, having recorded victories at Brugge and Maribor, so they will put up a good fight.
Editor's Prediction
Braga 1
Birmingham City 1
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Striker
Schalke 		14 3
Radamel Falcao Radamel Falcao
Striker
Atlético Madrid 		12 1
Adrián Adrián
Striker
Atlético Madrid 		10 0
Fernando Llorente Torres Fernando Llorente Torres
Striker
Bilbao 		7 2
Jonatan Ezequiel Cristaldo Jonatan Ezequiel Cristaldo
Striker
Metalist Kharki 		7 0