The Player Analyst

In a game overshadowed by the full English showdown across the channel, viewers were treated to an exctiting display of end-to-end football, with first half goals from Tikanz and Grifo, followed by a last minute winner by substitute Mario Dorgeles.

To kick off proceedings, Demir Ege Tiknaz made it 1-0 inside 8 minutes with a lovely poke into the far corner. Pau Victor breaks the defensive line with a skillful turn. The ball is then floated towards the back post, where Victor Gómez anticipates the clearing header from Makengo, takes it down and threads it back past the last line. The visitors’ defence freezes, giving the Turkish youngster a chance at goal, which he takes perfectly.

Shortly after, a defensive catastrophe occurs for the home side, as both centre halves attack the same ball, taking both of them completely out of play. The ball falls between Braga’s Vítor Carvalho and Freiburg striker Igor Matanović, where the former misses the clearance and fouls the latter. Suddenly, what was a simple loose ball across the halfway line, turns into a 2 vs nothing for Freiburg. Beste charges forward with the ball, plays a precise pass across the box to Vincenzo Grifo, which the captain plants comfortably past the goalkeeper. A self-inflicted mess ruins the Portuguese sides’ early lead.

To cap off the first half, the in-game injured club captain Horta’s replacement, Mario Dorgeles, puts in a dreadful corner, which can’t beat its first man. Behind this, Swedish centre back Lagerbielke goes to ground in a tussle with Philipp Lienhart. After several replays shown, Anthony Taylor is directed towards the monitor, and points to the spot. Zalazar steps up to score, like he usually does, but keeps his head down, missing Atubolu’s premature dive towards the exact location he wanted. It’s a strong right-handed stop from the Freiburg goalkeeper, who wins his gamble and takes his team into the second half in a secure position.

Much less to report on in the second half, as half chances for both sides amount to nothing. Matanović impresses as a target man for Manzambi and Grifo to work off, but ultimately nothing comes of this. Both sides have their chances, but cheap fouls and dives make for a slightly more grimace-inducing half of football.

From around minute 75, Braga coach Carlos Vicens shifts his players up a gear or two, in hopes of taking an advantage with them to the second leg in Germany. After 15 minutes of expert craftsmanship from the likes of ex-Barca man Pau Victor and a 39 year old João Moutinho, Braga finally have their breakthrough.

A perfect lob from Moutinho meets Victor Gómez, creator of the opening goal. Gómez pulls the ball back to his opposing fullback Vítor Carvalho, who’s attempt fires right at the palms of Noah Atubolu. The young goalkeeper spills the shot into the path of Mario Dorgeles, who calmly finishes into the bottom corner.

With over double the expected goals of their visitors and an impressive, flowing brand of football, Braga’s deserved lead is crucial to the tie. The Portuguese side look to return to the Europa League Final for the first time since 2011, where they lost 1-0 to domestic rivals Porto.