And that’s all for now! Thank you so much for watching this Liga Portugal match, with all the action and excitement in real time here on VAVEL! Stay tuned for updates and upcoming games. Good morning and see you next time!
In a fast-paced game, Benfica took the lead in the first half with a goal from Otamendi, while Zalazar equalized and Pau Victor put Benfica ahead. In the second half, Benfica quickly equalized through Aursnes to finish the match 2-2!
Gabriel Moscardo, who just entered, received a yellow card for a foul. In the sequence Ricardo Horta received a yellow card for a strong foul, being his second, where he was sent off at the end of the game!
Fran Navarro received Zalazar’s cross to get a strong header, sending the ball wide. In the sequence Richard Ríos shot strong, but for now. E o Braga mudou, where Zalazar comes to the entrance of Gabriel Moscardo.
Benfica changes twice, where they leave Sudakov and Barreiro for the entrances of Ivanovic and Prestianni. Logo after Aursnes receives or passes in front and bats strong, but sending the ball over the goal, for the goal.
Richard Ríos received a yellow card for a strong foul by Vitor Carvalho. Logo depois or Braga fez three trucks, where Pau Victor, Dorgeles and João Moutinho appear for the entrances of Fran Navarro, Gabri Martínez and Florian Grillitsch.
In a corner kick taken into the area by Sudakov, Tomás Araújo headed powerfully, but sent the ball wide. Following that, Richard Ríos took a powerful shot from distance, but Hornicek parried the ball away once again.
Ricardo Horta received a yellow card for a hard foul on Barreiro. Shortly after, Samuel Dahl received a pass from Pavlidis and shot powerfully, but Hornicek made another save, keeping Braga in the game!
After the equalizing goal, Benfica began to apply more and more pressure, trying to create danger. Despite this pressure, the game slowed down a bit due to a stoppage for Hornicek to receive treatment, as he was in pain after a series of saves.
Tomás Araújo received the pass up front and shot hard, high into the net, with Hornicek parrying the ball away for a corner. Sudakov took the corner, and Pavlidis headed powerfully, but Hornicek parried the ball away once more!
And in the first dangerous play of the second half, Benfica equalizes! In a great counter-attack, Pavlidis found the pass for Aursnes, who controlled the ball and shot powerfully into the top right corner, tying the game with a beautiful goal!
The players are back on the field and the second half of the match between Braga and Benfica is underway, with all the action and excitement in real time here on VAVEL, in this 16th round match of the Portuguese League!
In a first half that started slowly, the match picked up pace until Benfica opened the scoring with Otamendi. Then Braga launched an attack to equalize with Zalazar and take the lead with Pau Victor, ending the first half with a score of 2-1!
In a great exchange of passes, Ricardo Horta received the ball and crossed low for the defense to try and clear, but without success, with Pau Victor getting the ball in the area to get past two defenders and shoot hard, turning the game around for Braga!
At a cross into the box, Samuel Dahl deflected the ball with his arm, and the referee awarded a penalty! Zalazar took a strong, low shot into the left corner, equalizing the match for Braga from the penalty spot at the end of the first half!
João Moutinho received a yellow card for complaining after Benfica’s goal. Shortly after, Braga attacked again, with Zalazar crossing for D’Orgeles to head powerfully, but the ball was once again blocked by the defense.
On the right, Benfica won a free kick, which Sudakov took and crossed into the box for Otamendi to rise between the defenders and head powerfully into the left corner, sending the ball into the back of the net and opening the scoring for Benfica!
And the balance of the game is paying off, with Dedic finding the pass for Richard Ríos to break away and shoot powerfully from distance, but sending the ball over the goal, wide. Benfica is getting closer and closer to the penalty area!
Benfica is starting to balance the game and dominate the action somewhat. Braga continues to have possession, trying to create danger in the attacking third, but sees Benfica increasingly reaching the opponent’s penalty area, despite the game’s slow pace.
Rodrigo Zalazar received the pass and shot hard, but it was blocked by the defense. Shortly after, Tomás Raújo received a yellow card for a hard foul on Lelo. Following that, Ricardo Horta shot hard, but it was blocked by the defense.
On the right, Braga had a corner kick, delivered into the box for Vitor Carvalho to head powerfully high, only for Trubin to parry it away once again! Shortly after, João Moutinho got a strong shot off, but sent the ball wide.
We have a slightly slower start to the game, where Ricardo Horta received the pass up front and shot hard, but sent the ball wide. Braga starts the match maintaining possession in the attacking half, despite the slow pace!
The players are taking to the pitch and the ball is rolling for Braga vs Benfica, in these first 45 minutes of the 16th round of the Liga Portugal, with all the action and excitement in real time here on VAVEL, live from the Estádio Municipal de Braga!
Earlier today, Arouca drew 2-2 with Gil Vicente at home, and Casa Pia drew 0-0 with Vitória at home. Later today, Sporting will host Rio Ave, and tomorrow, closing out the round, Porto will face AVS SAD!
Yesterday, only two games took place in the 16th round of the Portuguese League, where Estoril easily defeated Alverca 4-1 in the score away from home, while Estrela Amadora beat Famalicão 3-2, hosting the game.
For tonight’s game, José Mourinho will have the following players to use during the match against Braga: Diogo Ferreira, Gonçalo Oliveira, António Silva, Manuel Silva, João Rêgo, Prestianni, Ivanovic, Rodrigo Rego and Schjelderup.
For tonight’s game, Carlos Vicens will have the following players to use during the match against Benfica: Tiago Sá, Nuno Matos, Paulo Oliveira, Florian Grillitsch, Diego Rodrigues, Gabriel Moscardo, Yanis da Rocha, Gabriel Martínez and Fran Navarro.
With a 4-2-3-1 formation, Benfica’s starting lineup for tonight’s Liga Portugal match against Braga is: Trubin, Dedic, Araújo, Otamendi and Dahl; Richard Ríos, Barrenechea, Aursnes, Barreiro and Sudakov; Pavlidis.
With a 3-4-3 formation, Braga’s starting lineup for tonight’s Liga Portugal match against Benfica is: Hornicek, Gómez, Carvalho and Arrey-Mbi; Dorgeles, João Moutinho, Gorby and Lele; Zalazar, Victor and Ricardo Horta.
Abrimos agora a transmissão da partida entre Braga e Benfica, com todos os lances e emoções em tempo real dessa 16ª rodada da Liga aqui na VAVEL, com a partida de hoje diretamente do Estádio Municipal de Braga!
Do not miss a detail of the match with the live updates and commentaries of VAVEL. Follow along with us all the details, commentaries, analysis and lineups for this Braga vs Benfica Portuguese League match here at VAVEL.
“They are a team that draws their opponents in, a team that has possession of the ball, forces opponents to make decisions about whether to attack them, press them, or wait and accept that the opponent has more possession than us. It’s difficult. Very difficult, but we are also convinced that we are in a good position now. The four results are good, but it’s not just the four results. We have done many things well and, in our opinion, we have shown or felt progress in different aspects of our game, and that is why we expect to get a good result against a team that is very good. But it’s a difficult game for us… and for them. The opponent, as you correctly said, the way they played against Sporting and against FC Porto shows not only their overall quality but also their qualities as a team. We already know that they are the team with the highest percentage of possession in the Primeira Liga. That says a lot about the coach’s playing philosophy and how the team plays.” “I went to Estoril to watch the game, as you probably know, because it gives me a different feeling, a different perspective on the analysis—now more logical—that we do with the means we have available today. It wasn’t exactly SC Braga’s best game, but it was enough to get an idea of their style of play.”
Finally, today’s match takes place at the Braga Municipal Stadium, located in Dume, Braga. Opened in 2003, the stadium has a capacity of over 30,000 spectators and has been Braga’s home since its debut, and between 2007 and 2014, it was known as the AXA Stadium for commercial reasons.
On the other side, Benfica will be without Leandro Barreiro, Lukebakio, Bruma, Bah and Henrique Araújo, all injured, and will field the following team: Trubin, Dedic, Antonio Silva, Otamendi and Dahl; Barrenechea, Richard Ríos, Aursnes, Sudakov and Prestianni; Pavlidis.
For today’s game, Braga will be without Lagerbielke and El Ouazzani, both injured, and will field the following team: Hornicek, Vitor Carvalho, Oliveira and Arrey-Mbi; Gomez, João Moutinho, Gorby and Lelo; Victor, Fran Navarro and Ricardo Horta.
Benfica is third in the Liga Portugal with 35 points, three behind Sporting and eight behind leaders Porto. Braga is in fifth place with 25 points, one behind Gil Vicente and 10 behind Benfica, as well as two ahead of Famalicão and four ahead of Moreirense.
On the other side, Benfica comes with three consecutive wins this season. On Sunday (14), away from home, the victory was over Moreirense, with goals from Pavlidis (3) and Aursnes. On Wednesday (17), by 2-0, the victory was away from home over Farense. And on Monday (22), by 1-0, the victory came over Famalicão, at home, with a goal from Pavlidis.
Braga comes into today’s game with two wins and one loss in their last games. On Monday (15), by 1-0, the victory came at home against Santa Clara, with a goal by Ricardo Horta. On Friday (19), by 1-0, the defeat came against Estoril, away from home, with a goal by André Lacximicant. And on Tuesday (23), by 3-0, the victory came in the Portuguese Cup, against Caldas, away from home.
