Sporting de Braga, in Naples, and Benfica, in Salzburg, need two-goal victories this Tuesday to achieve their objectives, in the case of the ‘eagles’ the minimum, in the group stage of the soccer Champions League .
The Arsenalistas will qualify for the round of 16, for the first time in their history, if they win by two goals, while the Reds need to win by the same margin to continue in European competitions, via the Europa League.
Artur Jorge’s team can also continue its European journey in the second UEFA competition, which it will achieve with a point, but may even lose, as long as Unión Berlin does not beat already qualified Real Madrid at home. .
For Braga, the situation is clearly more favorable, especially because the Minho team arrives at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium without pressure, since the responsibility lies entirely with the current Italian champion.
The Minho team only has against them the strong absences of Niakaté (sent off in the previous round, after 30 minutes, in the 1-1 with Unión Berlin) and Álvaro Djaló (injured).
Despite this, the Arsenalistas are on the rise, with four victories in the last five games, the European clash being the exception, while Napoli has three consecutive defeats and only one victory in the last six games.
Minho’s team tries to join Bayern Munich, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, Inter Milan, Atlético de Madrid, Lazio, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City, Leipzig and FC Barcelona in the round of 16.
Braga is risking its European future precisely before hosting Benfica on Sunday, for the 14th matchday of the I Liga, who has a ‘Champions’ to forget, adding a measly point, the result of a 3-3 against the Inter Milan, on the last day. round.
After failing to beat the Italians, after a 3-0 lead at half-time, with a hat-trick from João Mário, Benfica now needs to win by two in Salzburg, where they will play without the suspended António Silva, the injured Bah. and Neres, and also without fans, after the ‘torches’ thrown at the Real Sociedad fans in San Sebastián.
After losing 2-0 against Salzburg in Luz, the ‘reds’, who are three points behind the Austrians, need to win by at least the same margin to equalize the direct confrontation and force a goal tie in all the matches of the group stage.
Regarding the rest of the groups, this Tuesday the second place in Group A will also be decided, already won by Bayern, with Copenhagen (five points) hosting Galatasaray (five) and Manchester United (four) hosting the Bavarians.
Also worth highlighting is Sevilla’s reception of Lens, with the Spaniards needing to win to advance to their favorite competition, the Europa League, which they won, with its current name, in 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2019/20 . and last season.
Source: TSF
