Braga opened their European season in Serbia with a goalless draw — and the tie now heads home
In the Conference League, Sp. Braga drew 0-0 away at Zeljeznicar Pancevo in the second qualifying round first leg. The tie will be settled back in Braga.
Sp. Braga’s European season is up and running, and it began with some sums still to do. Away in Serbia, the northern side drew 0-0 with Zeljeznicar Pancevo in the first leg of the Conference League second qualifying round. No away goals, but no damage either: Braga keep everything open to settle the tie at home.
A goalless draw says two things at once. The good: Braga didn’t concede and didn’t hand their opponents a lead to carry into the return. The less good: they passed up the chance to all but finish the tie with an away goal, which would have been worth its weight in gold. It all rides on the second leg now.
How did the match in Serbia go?
It was one of those early-season European nights where the result matters more than the spectacle. Braga are in these rounds after finishing fourth in the last Primeira Liga, and with Torreense taking the Portuguese Cup, the European place left over sent them down this Conference League path. It isn’t the marquee stage, but it’s the way in — and slipping up here would be a cold shower right at the start.
When is the second leg?
The tie is decided the following week, with Braga at home, where they go in as favourites in front of their own fans. Whoever advances moves on to the third qualifying round, another step up the long staircase toward the competition’s league phase. The draw and official details are on UEFA’s site.
It wasn’t the only European opener for a Portuguese side this week: Benfica also began away, in Switzerland, a reminder that summer, for these clubs, is already the real thing.
By Vasco Almada
Image: 準建築人手札網站 Forgemind ArchiMedia from Taichung, Taiwan, Taiwan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
