When Braga defeated Sevilla to progress through to the Champions League group stages, the footballing public was impressed, so when the Portuguese runners-up were thumped at Arsenal on the opening matchday of pool competition there were immediately doubts cast over their ability to compete at the very top.
Domingos Paciencia’s side meet Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday, and they certainly have a point to prove as they attempt to rebound from their joint heaviest ever defeat in UEFA competition.
Arsenal breached the defence of the Portuguese side six times without reply, and though Paciencia would ultimately label the Gunners as potential European champions, he was still taken aback by the loss.
“We could not have played any worse,” he told the media after the game. “I wish we could have finished the game at half-time and even then it still would have been a bad experience.
"This was not the image we wanted to give of Braga. We've only lost three points but it was a night to forget.”
Instead of reflecting upon that disastrous evening, os Arsenalistas will be focusing on the future against Shakhtar, which is a match they will feel they can win. “We can't play any worse than that,” the coach exclaimed, considering the forthcoming fixture.
In league action since their humiliating defeat at the Emirates Stadium, Braga have bounced back with a 2-2 draw against Pacos de Ferreira and a 3-1 victory over Naval. They will hope their positive trend continues on Tuesday.
Needing A Better Finishing Touch
While the hosts play with the knowledge that victory is virtually essential for them to keep their dreams of the knock-out stage alive, Shakhtar would probably welcome a point, having opened up with a 1-0 success over Partizan.
Darijo Srna scored the only goal of the encounter and was not pleased with the Ukrainian champions’ performance, which was characterised by sloppy finishing. On several occasions they might have added to their solitary strike, which arrived midway through the second half, but poor finishing meant the Croatian full-back’s intervention was crucial.
“We lacked precision when finishing,” wily coach Mircea Lucescu explained to the media after the game. "We have to be more aggressive and confident in the opposing penalty box."
On the domestic scene there have been few such problems for Shakhtar, who top the Ukrainian Premier League after 11 matches, having already contrived to score 21 goals for the loss of just five. Victories over Tavriya (4-1) and Metalist (2-1) suggest that the Moles are improving their knowledge of the route to goal, and they will certainly need to be more efficient when they meet wounded opponents in Portugal’s north this week.
TEAM NEWS
Braga
Elderson and Leandro Salino were both suspended for the opening match of Champions League action but they are eligible to return for this fixture.
In terms of injuries, Paciencia doesn’t have too many issues, though goalkeeper Quim is out until 2011 with an Achilles problem. Additionally, Alberto Rodriguez was absent at the weekend because of a thigh issue but is back and ready for action.
Mossoro made a successful return to the team against Pacos de Ferreira, scoring a goal as he made his comeback from a broken leg.
Shakhtar
Fernandinho is still absent with a broken leg picked up against Obolon in Shakhtar’s only league defeat this season. It is not anticipated that the Brazilian defender will return to action before the conclusion of the group stages.
Dmytro Chygrynskiy, meanwhile, isn’t included in a 23-man panel after pulling his hamstring at the end of August.
Prediction
Braga may have been thumped on the road by Arsenal, but their strength has always been their home form. Perfect at the Estadio Municipal in continental play this season, Domingos Paciencia’s men have also won 17 of their 18 home league games over the course of the last year. Shakhtar will have to be on top form to prevent the Portuguese gaining another victory, but if there are any nerves in the home ranks, the experienced Ukrainians can certainly take advantage.
Braga 2-1 Shakhtar 
