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July 28, 2010 8:00 PM BST
July 28, 2010 8:00 PM BST
Champions League Qualifying Preview: Braga - Celtic
Os Arcebispos make their European Cup debut against the 1967 winners...
| Bet: | Returns: | Braga £17.50 | Draw £34.00 | Beşiktaş £42.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Braga £17.30 | Draw £33.00 | Beşiktaş £42.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Braga £18.00 | Draw £33.00 | Beşiktaş £40.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Braga £17.00 | Draw £35.00 | Beşiktaş £52.50 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Braga £17.60 | Draw £33.00 | Beşiktaş £43.00 |
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By Robin Bairner
First Timers
Wednesday night will be a historic occasion for Braga, who will play their first ever match at the top level of the European game when the spectacular Estadio Axa plays host to former continental kings Celtic.
Braga achieved notoriety last season when they shrugged away the challenge of Porto and Sporting Lisbon to emerge as Portugal’s second force, challenging an impressive Benfica side all the way until the end of the campaign. Ultimately, Domingos Paciencia’s side came up a little short of claiming any silverware, but they impressively finished in the top three for the first time in their history.
The former Portugal striker must now attempt to lead his side into the Champions League, where great riches of course await. Underdogs over the course of last season, they go into this tie with very real hopes of qualifying and are indeed given a 50-50 shot of progressing by many bookmakers.
It’s been a fairly busy summer on the transfer front for the unlikely northern Portuguese outfit. While some squad players have been trimmed away, the team has been reinforced with the arrival of Senegalese striker Ladji Keita and Nigerian international left-back Uwa Echijile, as well as a trio of Brazilians. Centre-backs Eduardo and Leo Fortunato and anchoring midfielder Leandro Salino have all joined up with the squad and will be aiming to make a winning start.
Celtic’s side has also undergone something of a rejuvenation over the course of the last few weeks. Last term was a massive disappointment for the side from Glasgow’s east end as they finished a distant second in the league behind fierce rivals Rangers, crashed out of the Champions League at the qualifying stage and haplessly failed when placed in the Europa League.
Now under the full-time charge of former player Neil Lennon, there is a great sense of anticipation surrounding the Parkhead club going into the new campaign. Fresh faces have been added to the first team squad in the form of Cha Du Ri, Joe Ledley, Charlie Mulgrew, Daryl Murphy, Gary Hooper and Efrain Suarez, though the manager is still on something of a shoestring budget.
Friendly performances don’t exactly suggest great things for the Bhoys. Defeated 1-0 by the Philadelphia Union, there was an improved performance against Manchester United in a 3-1 defeat, before a 2-1 win over the Seattle Sounders. Sporting CP were then seen off on penalties, while the Tic’s latest encounter was a 4-1 success over English League Two strugglers Lincoln, who actually took the lead at Sincil Bank.
There are two-and-a-half weeks until Celtic’s domestic season begins, but the Bhoys will have to be on top of their game to oust Braga and take another crucial step towards the group stages of the Champions League.
Wednesday night will be a historic occasion for Braga, who will play their first ever match at the top level of the European game when the spectacular Estadio Axa plays host to former continental kings Celtic.
Braga achieved notoriety last season when they shrugged away the challenge of Porto and Sporting Lisbon to emerge as Portugal’s second force, challenging an impressive Benfica side all the way until the end of the campaign. Ultimately, Domingos Paciencia’s side came up a little short of claiming any silverware, but they impressively finished in the top three for the first time in their history.
The former Portugal striker must now attempt to lead his side into the Champions League, where great riches of course await. Underdogs over the course of last season, they go into this tie with very real hopes of qualifying and are indeed given a 50-50 shot of progressing by many bookmakers.
It’s been a fairly busy summer on the transfer front for the unlikely northern Portuguese outfit. While some squad players have been trimmed away, the team has been reinforced with the arrival of Senegalese striker Ladji Keita and Nigerian international left-back Uwa Echijile, as well as a trio of Brazilians. Centre-backs Eduardo and Leo Fortunato and anchoring midfielder Leandro Salino have all joined up with the squad and will be aiming to make a winning start.
Celtic’s side has also undergone something of a rejuvenation over the course of the last few weeks. Last term was a massive disappointment for the side from Glasgow’s east end as they finished a distant second in the league behind fierce rivals Rangers, crashed out of the Champions League at the qualifying stage and haplessly failed when placed in the Europa League.
Now under the full-time charge of former player Neil Lennon, there is a great sense of anticipation surrounding the Parkhead club going into the new campaign. Fresh faces have been added to the first team squad in the form of Cha Du Ri, Joe Ledley, Charlie Mulgrew, Daryl Murphy, Gary Hooper and Efrain Suarez, though the manager is still on something of a shoestring budget.
Friendly performances don’t exactly suggest great things for the Bhoys. Defeated 1-0 by the Philadelphia Union, there was an improved performance against Manchester United in a 3-1 defeat, before a 2-1 win over the Seattle Sounders. Sporting CP were then seen off on penalties, while the Tic’s latest encounter was a 4-1 success over English League Two strugglers Lincoln, who actually took the lead at Sincil Bank.
There are two-and-a-half weeks until Celtic’s domestic season begins, but the Bhoys will have to be on top of their game to oust Braga and take another crucial step towards the group stages of the Champions League.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
-
Sporting Braga 2-0 Celtic
- 16.34 %
-
Sporting Braga 0-0 Celtic
- 15.84 %
-
Sporting Braga 1-0 Celtic
- 14.36 %
| UEFA Champions League (UCL) | Aug 4, 2010 | Celtic 2 - Sporting Braga 1 |
|
| UEFA Champions League (UCL) | Jul 28, 2010 | Sporting Braga 3 - Celtic 0 |
|
Sporting Braga
  |
||
| Jan 30, 2012 | Maritimo 1 - Sporting Braga 2 | POR1 |
| Jan 22, 2012 | Sporting Braga 2 - Rio Ave 1 | POR1 |
| Jan 15, 2012 | Sporting Braga 2 - Sporting Lisbon 1 | POR1 |
| Jan 9, 2012 | Beira-Mar 1 - Sporting Braga 2 | POR1 |
| Dec 19, 2011 | SC Olhanense 3 - Sporting Braga 4 | POR1 |
Celtic
   |
||
| Dec 15, 2011 | Udinese 1 - Celtic 1 | EL |
| Nov 30, 2011 | Celtic 0 - Atletico Madrid 1 | EL |
| Nov 3, 2011 | Celtic 3 - Stade Rennais FC 1 | EL |
| Oct 20, 2011 | Stade Rennais FC 1 - Celtic 1 | EL |
| Sep 29, 2011 | Celtic 1 - Udinese 1 | EL |
|
|
Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
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Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
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Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
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Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
| - | Castanheira | |
| 8 | Hussaine | Midfielder |
| 20 | Uwa Elderson Echiejile | Defender |
| - | Leite Nascimento Matheus | Striker |
| 18 | Sung-Yueng KI | Midfielder |
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