The UEFA Champions League Qualifiers match between Braga and Panathinaikos is scheduled to take place at Estadio Municipal de Braga on Thursday at 12:30 am IST.
Advancing to the ultimate stage of Champions League qualifying through distinct routes, Braga and Panathinaikos kick off their two-part playoff clash at Estadio Municipal on Wednesday evening. Braga secured their spot with a comprehensive 7-1 aggregate victory against Backa Topola in the previous preliminary phase. In contrast, Panathinaikos progressed by triumphing over previous champions Marseille via a penalty shootout in the third round.
Despite holding an imposing 3-0 lead after the initial leg of their clash with Serbian underdogs Backa Topola, Braga didn’t ease up in their visit to the TSC Arena last week. They dominated the first half with a flurry of goals, as Pizzi, Bruma, Alvaro Djalo, and Al-Musrati all found the net within 20 minutes. While Marko Rakonjac managed a consolation goal for Backa Topola, it had little impact. Following a 4-1 triumph over the same opponents, Braga continued their impressive goal-scoring form by defeating Chaves 4-2 in the Primeira Liga. This victory followed a 2-1 loss to Famalicao in their league opener. Braga’s history of successful Champions League qualifying playoff rounds, with previous wins over Sevilla and Udinese, adds to their strong European record.
Panathinaikos, unlike Braga and other Champions League contenders, has yet to begin their domestic campaign, focusing solely on European aspirations. Their third-round victory over Dnipro-1 set the stage for a dramatic upset against Marseille, with Bernard securing a 1-0 first-leg win. Despite Marseille’s attempted comeback, a late Fotis Ioannidis penalty forced extra time and penalties, which Panathinaikos conquered. Intriguingly, Braga’s 2010-11 debut in the Champions League group stage aligns with Panathinaikos’ last appearance in the main tournament. Ahead of their first-ever clash with Braga at Estadio Municipal, Panathinaikos confronts Volos NFC in the Greek Super League, an unwanted distraction.
Braga probable starting lineup: Matheus, Gomez, Fonte, Niakate, Marin, Pizzi, Carvalho, Al-Musrati, Bruma, Horta, Djalo
Panathinaikos probable starting lineup: Brignoli, Vagiannidis, Jedvaj, Magnusson, Mladenovic, Vilhena, Perez, Mancini, Djuricic, Bernard, Ioannidis
Braga
| Opponents | Score |
| Chaves | 4-2 (W) |
| TSC | 4-1 (W) |
| Famalicao | 1-2 (L) |
| TSC | 3-0 (W) |
| Nice | 2-0 (W) |
Panathinaikos
| Opponents | Score |
| Marseille | 2-2 (D) |
| Marseille | 1-0 (W) |
| Dnipro-1 | 2-2 (D) |
| Dnipro-1 | 3-1 (W) |
| Rayo Vallecano | 0-1 (L) |
The upcoming encounter between these two clubs is going to be their first head to head match ever.
The UEFA Champions League Qualifiers match between Braga and Panathinaikos is scheduled to take place at Estadio Municipal de Braga on Thursday at 12:30 am IST.
| Braga vs Panathinaikos | Key Details |
| Date | August 23 (UK) |
| Venue | Estadio Municipal de Braga |
| Kickoff time in Portugal | 8:00 pm (Wednesday) |
| Kickoff time in Greece | 10:00 pm (Wednesday) |
| Kickoff time in India | 12:30 am (Thursday) |
Football fans in Portugal can catch the live action via DAZN Portugal while those in Greece can watch the match via Cosmote Sport 1 HD.
More football news:
Get the latest from Sportslumo.com by following us on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube
Follow Us
