Sporting Club Braga vs Celtic

Which was off topic

 

Yeah, because none of us knew it.

 

chill pill people

 

Sorry

 

Ok guys move on

 

Stay out of things when Moderators are doing there job.

 

We'll remember their keeper, Quim

From the Benfica game at CP where we bet them 3-0 ( Miller(2) ) he made some saves and conceded 3 ! Also, remember his save from a Maloney scissor kick. Good save it was.

 

Hi, i'm from Braga to and it's true that must be annoying to you Braga fans coming here. But i would like to say what i think about this game.

Celtic is the favourite, of course, because of its experience and name. I don't want to talk about players because, honestly, i don't know your present team very well, and i also don't know what is the true value of Braga this year, since we lost some important players.

But i have to say to you that lack of experience outside Portugal won't be our main weakness. And that's because, in the last 7 years, we have been playing in Uefa Cup. I can tell you what we achieved. We reached, two times, the 1/8 finals, and lost against the finalist Tottenham, and, two years ago, against PSG. On the last time we made it, we have won the Intertoto Cup. We also achieved the 1/16 finals in one year, losing against Werder Bremen. So, this is nothing compared to your historial, but it's better than nothing, since we where able to play agains great teams like Bayern Munique, Sevilla, AZ Alkmar, AC Milan, and we didn't play badly against them. All of this to say that we aren't so inexperient as you might think and as other portuguese clubs fans say. Last year, the things didn't go well, but you have to consider that Elfsborg was the leader of the swedish championship and allready had 8 games on their legs, while Braga was on its third week of preparation. And considering that we just had lost our coach Jorge Jesus, things couldn't go well.

Futhermore, i really hope you come as many as you can to our city. You are known here as one of the greatest fans in Europe, so i wan't to enjoy that. And you will be wellcomed here, as most of the foreigner's supporters were. Of course, we have our struggles against inner teams( and against Red Star Belgrade ), just like you do.

 

think someones looking for a jobbie kd

 

A jobbie Kieran thats *.

 

bad bad man

 

Wee Joke

 

Keep on topic please

 

Hello, it was nice of you to come and share your info with us here :bbpd: I agree with you that our experience in Europe isn't necessarily a big advantage for us. While I admit I was pretty happy we are going to be facing you for the qualifier, I don't think it is going to be an easy game. I think it will be interesting to see how it goes given we both have inexperienced managers and the formula of our squads are both up in the air!

 

Welcome friend

Truth is, we know as little about our own team as we do yours. We are in a transitional period (again) and have no idea who our team will be when we play you in the 1st game.

I think the teams are very evenly matched, I'm betting our experience and 2nd leg home advantage will just edge us over the line.

Hope you enjoy the matches all the same.

 

We play on 27/28th in Portugal, but we have Wembley Cup from 24th to 26th (that was last year's schedule). Hmm...

 

ooohh sorry.

The 1st leg will be difficult, but if we get a draw or only 1 down il still be confidant, but we REALLY need a striker in before then, one whos agile and got pace so they can play off one of our other strikers, get a partner ship goin like JVOH and skippy had.

Rassa Stokes
^ Would be ideal imo

 

More info abot Braga

Hi Im Karl, Im Irish and Ive been living in Braga for 8 years. First of all I have to say its a dream draw for me. Because of the history that goes with Celtic this will be a match that will go down in the history of Braga. The people of Braga are great and I can say that its more a family than anything else. The people are great and very warm and friendly. Everybody knows it wont be easy even Paddy Power has both teams at 5/6 to go through.

Knowing both teams pretty well I think that experience will not come into it. The crowd in Glasgow will abviously be a factor but then the crowd here in Braga is always a factor. Last season we won 14 and drew one game in our fifteen league games. We had the best defence in the league. Two years ago we went nearly 8 games without conceding a goal in Europe. A unstoppable Ronaldinho screamer from outside the box in the 93rd minute against AC Milan ended the run. The backbone of that defence Moises and Rodrigues are still the central defenders although the goalkeeper Eduardo was sold a couple of weeks ago for 4.5 million. Braga's No. 2 goalkeeper went to Porto and Benfica's No. 1 from last season came to Braga. Unfortunately Quim got injured pre season and is out for 6 months. Just like Celtic we are looking for a keeper still.

Lucas will probably play right back. He just arrived from Brazilian Champions Santos and is a pacey defender who likes to attack. OF the players Ive seen pre season he is one of the two that has impressed me most

Elderson arrived from Rennes and plays left back. He's just bck fm the World Cup with Nigeria and is a big solid defender.

Alan plays on the left or right of midfield and is an out an out winger. Over the past two months he has been under constant speculation abot transferring to Sporting Lisbon or to a clb in Saudi Arabia. Braga's budget only allowed them to offer half the wages he would make in Saudi Arabia or in Lisbon. It was only announced today that he has agreed to sign a four year deal for the half the money. There's nothing like a player that puts love of a team before money.

Defensive midfielder Vandinho who was banned (illegally) for three months due to attempted aggression against a Benifca assistant coach when Braga beat Benfica 2-0 at home is returning and will return with a passion as the player that took his place Madrid returned to the team after a three year dip in form which included a six month soujourn to Porto. He haslots his extra 10 kilos and seems to be the player we loved to watch n 2005 and 2006. Madrid is a former U23 Argentinian International.

On thye left is Matheus or P CEsar depending on the formation plus alan who can play on both wings. Matheus has been on fire since December but likes to go to ground way too often. P Cesar is a model professional who will do the job the manager gives him. h has played centre forward and on the left of midfield.

Up front is Cameroon international Albert Meyong who has consistently scored goals over the years.

New player Lima came from Brazil but played in the Portugal on loan for Belenenses last season scoring 10 goals for the worst team in the league. He's got 5 pre season goals in 4 games.

Braga's pre season games so far

Meglacense 7-0 away
Maritimo 3-2 away
Leixoes 3-0 away
Moreirense 3-1 home
Gil Vicente 4-1 away
Rio Ave 1-0 away

Next
Ath Bilboa Wednesday 21st home

The fans are really looking forward to having someone with the history that Celtic has coming to Braga. Our first ever Champions League game and its a huge team.

My last Champions League game was when I went to support Celtic in Lisbon against Benfica(the huns of Portugal) when two defensive errors led to a 3-0 defeat. This time of course Ill be supporting Braga 100%.

If anyone is interested in hotels or transport drop me a line at karlbragaceltic@hotmail.com Ironic that Ive had this email account 8 years...

Football is just as corrupt here... Benfica were awarded 15 penalties last season and their apponents got 18 red cards in 30 games... Mossoro our midfield playmaker had his leg broken in the away game against Benfica last season. He's sill out injured. Not even a yellow card for a horrendous tackle. Braga beat Benfica and Porto at home last season and did the double over Sporting for the second season running. To put things into perspective Braga have only ever won 6 times away to Sporting once away to Benfica and 4 tiems away to Porto in all of Bragas history. Braga finish 23 points ahead of Sporting who finished 4th.

Braga's record signing is Mossoro who cost a mere 700,000 euros. Bragas budget up until a couple of seasons ago was 4 million euros. Its 10.5 million for this season. Benifica spent nearly 60 million on players last season while Braga spent less than 500,000.

What everybody wants is a good game and a game to remember. Everybody knows about the strength of Celtics support. The only side note for Braga is a couple of Years ago when we were voted the 4th best supporters in Europe by a British Magazine. Needless to say Celtic were probably higher.

In the town people are very friendly and the Braga fans will mix with the Celtic fans. The only ones you haveto watch out for are the Police. They do their job but they generally take action and hit out before asking questions. As froma fans perspective there is never any problems here. Our local rivals Are Guimaraes. This year we beat them 3-2 at home 4 penalties and 4 red cards and one penalty given and then the ref changed his mind. Portuguese refs suck big time.

Looking forward to you ll coming over for a party and to celebrate or first ever Champions League game....