Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Braga
Match Time & Date:
23/08/2023
21:00
Prediction: 2-0
Panathinaikos
After rolling over TSC of Serbia in the third qualifying round, Braga will look to book their place in the Champions League group stages when they face Panathinaikos in the double-header. Braga head into Wednesday’s clash following a thrilling 4-2 win over Chaves and they are likely to stick to their attacking style of play. As boss Artur Jorge has a luxury to field the best possible side against Panathinaikos, home win should definitely be considered.
PAO, on the other hand, survived Olympique Marseille in a thriller, with the Greek outfit beating Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Co. on penalties, but seeing that Braga have turned their Estadio Municipal into a real fortress, we predict that the visitors are going to return home with their hands empty. There are no fresh injury worries in the visiting team, but experienced midfielder Ruben Perez must be very cautious in the first leg as he is only one yellow card away from suspension.
Highlighted Player (Ricardo Horta):
Ricardo Horta is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Sporting Braga in Primeira Liga. Born in Sobreda, Portugal, on September 15, 1994, Ricardo Horta spent his youth career at Ginasio Corroios, Benfica, and Vitoria Setubal.
The 173-cm-tall winger continued playing for Setubal at the senior level, but he moved to Malaga in the summer of 2014, signing a five-year deal with the La Liga outfit. Ricardo Horta scored only one goal in 48 appearances for los Boquerones in the Spanish top flight before signing a loan deal with Braga. In July 2017, he signed a permanent contract with the Minhotos.
Ricardo Horta made his Primeira Liga debut against Rio Ave back in April 2013, during his spell with Vitoria Setubal. His primary position is left winger, but he is capable of producing good performances as a right winger as well. He made his Portugal debut in a 1-0 loss to Albania in the Euro 2016 qualifiers.
Highlighted Team (Panathinaikos):
Despite being founded on 3 February, 1908, Panathinaikos won their first domestic trophy in 1930. However, they quickly established themselves as one of the biggest clubs in Greece. Oi Prasinoi clinched their 20th Greek Superleague trophy in 2010, with the team finishing the season six points clear of their fiercest rivals Olympiakos.
There have always been fireworks in meetings between the two capital clubs and the clash between the two sides is well known as the “Derby of eternal enemies”. According to UEFA Panathinaikos are the second most-popular team football team in Greece. Speaking of the club’s European success, PAO made it to the 1970/1971 European Cup (Champions League) final, but Ajax proved to be a big catch for the Greek side in the title game.
It is well known that green trifolium (shamrock) is the club’s emblem. Giorgos Karagounis, Djibril Cisse, Emmanuel Olisadebe, Paulo Sousa and Goran Vlaovic are notable footballers who played for PAO in the past. Giourkas Seitaridis, Antonis Nikopolidis, Kostas Chalkias, Angelos Basinas, Giannis Goumas and Dimitris Papdopoulos are Panathinaikos players who helped Greece win the 2004 European Championship trophy.
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