What: UEFA Champions League (Third qualification round, first leg)
Who: Sporting Braga vs Celtic
When: Wednesday 28th July, 2010 at 20:00 UK Time
Where: Estádio AXA, Braga, Portugal
Debutants looking to make their mark
When your club isn’t called Benfica, Porto or Sporting Lisbon it’s difficult to make a mark in Portuguese football, so credit must go to Sporting Braga for finishing second in the top flight last season. In doing so they registered their highest ever league finish, a result which has provided them the opportunity of entering the Champions League for the first time. Os Guerreiros do Minho do have previous European pedigree, they were victors in the last ever Intertoto Cup, but this is a step up from anything they have experienced before.
Lennon looking for perfect start
It’s symbolic that Celtic travel to Portugal, the scene of their finest hour when they lifted the European Cup in 1967, for Neil Lennon’s first competitive game since he was made manager on a permanent basis. The Glaswegian giants had a season to forget as Tony Mowbray’s reign proved to be short-lived and Rangers ran out comfortable winners in the Scottish Premier League title race. The lowest point was an embarrassing Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to First Division outfit Ross County. Club legend Neil Lennon now has a fresh start and the backing of the club’s passionate supporters. He knows that qualification for the Champions League group stage would be the dream start to his Parkhead tenure.
Recent form
SC Braga:
Sporting Braga 1-0 Rio Ave (Friendly; 17/07/2010)
Sporting Braga 1-3 Athletic Bilbao (Friendly; 21/07/2010)
Varzim 2-0 Sporting Braga (Friendly; 24/07/2010)
Celtic:
Celtic 1-3 Manchester United (Friendly; 17/07/2010)
Seattle Sounders 1-2 Celtic (Friendly; 18/07/2010)
Celtic 1-1 Sporting Lisbon (Friendly; 22/07/2010)
Players to watch
Sporting Braga – Albert Meyong: The Cameroon striker was an instrumental figure as Braga claimed their highest ever league finish last season with the former Levante player netting eleven goals. Braga coach Domingos Paciência will be hoping his star striker can pick up from where he left off last season and fire Os Arsenalistas into the next round of the Champions League.
Celtic – Joe Ledley: With reports suggesting Aiden McGeady’s Celtic career is coming to an end as he is heavily linked with a move south of the border to Aston Villa, the Welsh international, who is a summer arrival at Celtic Park could become the Bhoys’ main creative force. The Champions League is a step up for a player accustomed to the English Championship, but the former Cardiff City player is a gifted footballer and should have the talent to make the step up.
Match prediction
Scottish sides have lost ground on their European rivals in recent years and it would be a disastrous start to Lennon’s tenure as Celtic boss if his side were to fall at the first Champions League hurdle. Ominously Sporting Braga have nothing to lose as they make their Champions League bow. After controlling possession they will take a one goal lead to Celtic Park as the Bhoys struggle in the stifling July heat of northern Portugal.
