Tuesday, May 17, 2011

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18.05. (Wed) 20:45 Porto - Sporting Braga



DID YOU KNOW?

* Porto are currently riding a three-game winning streak against Braga, outscoring them 9-3 during that span.

* Andre Villas-Boas' men finished the season undefeated in the Portuguese Liga with 27 wins and three draws.

* The Portuguese rivals are separated by just 47 km, which is a Uefa tournament final record.

* Falcao set a new tournament record with his 16th goal of the campaign, surpassing legendary Bayern Munich striker Jurgen Klinsmann who scored 15 in 1995-96.

* Braga's last victory against Porto came on September 19, 2009.

* Artur and Silvio have played every minute of the Archbishops' Europa League campaign.

* The two sides have never faced each other in European competition before.

* Braga coach Domingos Paciencia was the Portuguese Liga's top scorer with Porto back in the 1995-96 season.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Porto (4-3-3)
Helton; Sapunaru, Rolando, Maicon, Alvaro Pereira; Guarin, Fernando, Moutinho; Hulk, Falcao, Varela

Andre Villas-Boas could become the youngest coach ever to win a Uefa club competition if Porto are able to defeat Braga on Wednesday. The 33-year-old will likely employ the attacking triumvirate of Varela, Hulk and Falcao.

Braga (4-4-2)
Artur; Garcia, Rodriguez, Paulao, Silvio; Alan, Vandinho, Custodio, Viana; Lima, Meyong

Coach Domingos Paciencia has announced he will leave the club after the clash in Dublin. With a win on Wednesday the 42-year-old would become the first manager to beat a team he previously featured for as a player in a Uefa Cup or Europa League final.

Prediction
Porto have an excellent track record against Braga and should once again put their Portuguese rivals to the sword and make Andre Villas-Boas the youngest ever coach to win a major Uefa club competition.

Porto 2-0 Braga