Braga face a tough task as they look to overturn a two-goal deficit against Ferencváros in the second leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie. The match takes place at Estadio Municipal de Braga on Wednesday.
The Portuguese side lost 2-0 last Thursday when the teams met in Budapest. This was the first-ever encounter between the two sides.
Braga’s Challenge: Overcoming the Deficit
Braga, who gained direct passage to the round of 16 after finishing sixth in the league phase, now have a significant challenge. In the first leg, Braga enjoyed almost twice as much possession as Ferencváros, but the control didn’t translate into goals. Gabi Kanichowsky and Lenny Joseph scored for Ferencváros.
The result means Braga have lost two of their nine games in the Europa League main stage this season, with five wins and two draws. They now face a high mountain to climb if they are to reach the competition’s quarter-finals for the first time since 2015-16.
However, Braga have won each of their last six two-legged ties in UEFA competition. The Minho club have previously overturned a two-goal deficit to progress in this tournament, achieving this against Sheriff Tiraspol in the 2021-22 knockout-phase playoffs. Braga will seek to repeat such a feat even if only three of their seven victories in the last nine home games have come by a margin of two goals or more.
Ferencváros Aim to Maintain Advantage
Despite their advantage, Ferencváros also have concerns, having lost five of their last eight away matches in the Europa League, with four of them coming by a two or more goal margin.
Last season, the Greens exited the competition despite winning the first leg of their knockout playoff round on their own turf against Viktoria Plzen. They ultimately lost 3-1 on aggregate after suffering a 3-0 defeat.
Manager Robbie Keane acknowledged the difficulty of playing away from home. He said it is “going to be really difficult away from home”.
Historical Stakes for Ferencváros
Ferencváros could become the first Hungarian side to reach the quarter-finals of any major European competition for the first time in 41 years. They enter the midweek encounter buoyed by a six-game winning run across all competitions.
The Greens have scored 17 goals in that stretch, with three clean sheets. They will be aiming to continue this form in the crucial second leg.
Looking Ahead to Wednesday
Braga must overturn a two-goal deficit to keep their Europa League campaign alive. Ferencvaros fans might already be entertaining thoughts of a historic breakthrough in Europe.