Celtic to Face Braga in Europa League Showdown
Europa League: Celtic vs Sporting Braga
Venue: Celtic Park, Glasgow Date: Thursday, 2 October Kick-off: 17:45 BST
Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio Scotland Extra & Sounds, with live text commentary available on the BBC Sport website and app.
Sporting Braga arrives in Glasgow with a sense of urgency, despite a promising start to their Europa League campaign. Following a matchday one victory over Feyenoord, the team faced disappointment at home as they lost 1-0 to Nacional of Madeira, resulting in a drop to seventh place in Liga Portugal. This defeat marks a troubling five-game winless streak in domestic play, prompting criticism from fans regarding the players' attitudes.
New head coach Carlos Vicens, who has faced his own share of discontent from supporters—including the waving of white handkerchiefs, a common sign of dissent in Iberian football—finds himself under pressure after a strong start to the season has faltered. A significant result at Celtic Park is crucial for the team.
Vicens' ascent to head coach follows an impressive tenure at Manchester City, where he advanced from a work experience role to coaching under-12 and under-13 teams, eventually earning the position of under-18 coach before joining Pep Guardiola's staff in 2021. Eager to establish his own identity in management, he took over at Braga after the departure of Carlos Carvalhal.
His initial matches included a 0-0 draw against Levski Sofia and a narrow victory in extra time during the Europa League qualifiers. However, Braga managed a strong aggregate win over Cluj and two convincing league victories at the season's outset, setting optimistic expectations for Vicens' leadership. Yet, following a draw against AVS, which remains the only point for the bottom team, Braga has struggled, losing four consecutive league matches, further aggravating their supporters.
As Braga heads to Celtic Park, they recall a previous defeat during their only visit in August 2010, when they lost in Champions League qualifying. That season, Celtic's third-place finish in their Champions League group led them to an impressive Europa League run, culminating in a final appearance against Porto.
Braga's last notable performance came in 2022, reaching the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Rangers. Last season, despite victories over notable teams like Maccabi Tel Aviv and Lazio, Braga finished 25th and missed out on the knockout phase by a slim margin.
Lagerbielke Returns to Celtic Park
As the teams prepare for the match, questions remain about the readiness of Braga's squad. The club made significant investments in new players, including Spanish striker Pau Victor and Ivorian midfielder Mario Dorgeles, but both have yet to make a substantial impact. Dorgeles may miss the match due to a recent absence from the lineup.
Additionally, the game will mark the return of Gustaf Lagerbielke, a former Celtic centre-back who joined Braga this summer. After limited appearances under Brendan Rodgers, Lagerbielke has become a key player for his new team and will look to thwart his old teammates when the match kicks off on Thursday evening.