By Score More
Braga, July 25, 2024 – SC Braga delivered a commanding performance against Maccabi Petah Tikva, securing a 2-0 victory that sets them up favorably for the second leg of their Europa League second qualifying round. Despite the comfortable win, the margin could have been even greater, reflecting SC Braga’s dominance on the pitch.
While it might be an exaggeration to suggest that Braga’s progression to the third qualifying round is as certain as the sunrise, the disparity in quality between the two teams leaves little doubt. The victory on Thursday did not fully capture the gap in capabilities between the sides.
In football, anything can happen, and SC Braga players and staff will be mindful that the tie is not yet over. The second leg, to be played in Sofia, Bulgaria, instead of Israel due to the ongoing conflict, is still to come. Nevertheless, attention is already shifting towards their likely next opponent, Servette, who have started their Swiss league campaign with two wins and promise to provide stiffer competition.
SC Braga, despite not yet hitting their peak form in this early part of the season, were superior. The match had an early flashpoint when El Ouazzani was brought down by Hendy, leading to a red card for the Maccabi defender. However, the incident was overturned by VAR due to an offside call against the Moroccan forward.
Braga started energetically, looking to capitalize on their early advantage with quick, vertical plays aimed at putting the ball in the net. However, their initial vigor waned as Maccabi Petah Tikva’s five-man defensive line began to stifle their attacks. The Israeli side’s strategy of closing down the central channels forced Braga to attempt wider plays, which frequently ended in the opposition’s defense.
As Maccabi Petah Tikva began to grow in confidence, SC Braga found their rhythm again. Zalazar’s counter-attack set up Bruma for a chance, but Wolff made a crucial save in the 34th minute. Further opportunities came from Ricardo Horta and Roger, yet the first half ended goalless.
The breakthrough came in the second half. SC Braga increased their pressing, winning the ball higher up the pitch and executing their attacks more effectively. At 56 minutes, Bruma, receiving a pass from Niakaté, weaved through defenders and set up Ricardo Horta for the opener, thanks to a fortunate deflection. Shortly after, Roger was fouled in the box by Hendy, and Zalazar converted the resulting penalty to double the lead.
From there, Braga had the match under control, with the question only being the final scoreline. Despite several chances to extend their lead, poor finishing kept the score at 2-0. Notable misses included Roberto Fernández’s double attempt in the 90th minute and Gabri Martínez’s shot in stoppage time, both thwarted by Wolff.
With the second leg in Sofia expected to be a formality, SC Braga can look ahead with confidence to a probable matchup against Servette. The sun, indeed, will continue to rise, and so too does Braga’s European campaign look set to progress.