SC Braga seeks, in Athens, against Panathinaikos, to secure access to the Football Champions League group stage, in the second leg of the play-off, for which it starts with a minimal advantage.
Regarding the first leg, Artur Jorge left Al Musrati (injured) and Pizzi out of the starting eleven to make way for André Horta and Álvaro Djaló.
The first play with some danger began at the feet of the Asturian, who started in the middle and gave the ball to Ricardo Horta. The Portuguese international simulated the shot and served to Bruma, who, after several feints, gave it to Vítor Carvalho. He finally shot, but the ball hit Álvaro Djaló and went off the end line.
At 14 minutes, Abel Ruiz threatened the goal again. The ball came to him inside the area and the Spaniard, in half a turn, shot slightly wide.
The Greek response came soon after. Palacios entered the area from the right and crossed low, but Ioannidis failed to divert into the small area.
At 31, SC Braga had the best chance so far. Álvaro Djaló recovered the ball in an uphill zone and gave it to Abel Ruiz. The shot was saved by Brignoli and Ricardo Horta’s reload was cut off by a defender.
After 45 minutes, Panathinaikos came very close to scoring. Corner kick from the right flank and Ioannidis, in the small area, headed in before a great save by Matheus.
Panathinaikos XI: Alberto Brignoli, Vagiannidis, Tin Jedvaj, Magnússon, Juankar, Rubén Pérez, Tonny Vilhena, Bernard, Sebastian Palacios, Ioannidis, Daniel Mancini.
SC Braga eleven: Matheus, Victor Gómez, Niakaté, José Fonte, Adrián Marín, Vítor Carvalho, André Horta, Álvaro Djaló, Ricardo Horta, Bruma and Abel Ruiz.
Panathinaikos Substitutes: Vasilios Xenopoulos, Klidman Lilo, Giannis Kotsiras, Giorgos Sideras, Filip Mladenovic, Willian Arão, Filip Djuricic, Adam Cerin, Aitor Cantalapiedra, Andraz Sporar, Benjamin Verbic.
SC Braga Substitutes: Tiago Sá, Lukas Hornicek, Joe Mendes, Paulo Oliveira, Serdar Saatci, Djibril Soumaré, Pizzi, André Castro, Rodrigo Zalazar, Rony Lopes, Simon Banza, Roger Fernandes.
Source: TSF
