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SC Braga: A Hero's Return

Started on 14 April 2014 by Jack
Latest Reply on 17 September 2014 by Jack
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March Update


Despite losing to Barcelona 4-2, we made it through on away goals. Then we had to play Manchester City at The Etihad Stadium, in which we lost 4-3 in the first leg, but score three away goals which definitely lifted our confidence ahead of the next tie at the Estádio AXA. We managed a huge win against Olhanense who were bottom of the league, putting nine goals past their helpless keeper. Along with this we defeated Portimonense 6-0 in the league. We also topped the league by one point at the end of March.

Gil Vicente 1 - 4 Braga

Liga Zon Sagres
Estádio Cidade de Barcelos
Attendance: 8,118



Gabrield (own goal 10)
James Rodríguez (31)
Wellington Nem (46, 57)

Juanlu Hens (65)

FC Barcelona 4 - 2 Braga

Champions League First Knockout Round 2nd Leg
Camp Nou
Attendance: 83,335



Álex Grimaldo (28, 53)
Bruma (30)
André Ramalho (34)

Neymar (35)
Gerard Deulofeu (69)


Olhanense 0 - 9 Braga

Liga Zon Sagres
Estádio do Algarve
Attendance: 3,933



Aleksandar Ignjovski (10)
Michy Batshuayi (12, 27)
James Rodríguez (13, 14)
Wellington Nem (33, 46)
Rodrigo (45+1, 51)


Braga 6 - 0 Portimonense

Liga Zon Sagres
Estádio AXA
Attendance: 18,867



André Ramalho (4)
Wellington Nem (13, 54, 89)
James Rodríguez (22)
Oliver Baumann (53)


Braga 2 - 0 SL Benfica

Taca de Portugal Semi-Final 1st Leg
Estádio AXA
Attendance: 21,401



Michy Batshuayi (37)
Lima (39)


Manchester City 4 - 3 Braga

Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg
Etihad Stadium
Attendance: 45,520


Michy Batshuayi (2, 46)
David Silva (10)
Álvaro Negredo (18 ,64)
James Milner (69)

Federico Pardini (80)




The Month Ahead

April


In terms of league games, we have an extremely relaxed month ahead, playing Moreirense, Rio Ave and Marítimo as the season begins to close. There are 15 more points up for grabs and I want to make sure I get every single one of them. Also, we have the League Cup Final against Rio Ave as we try to win our second trophy of the season following the Supertaca win against Marítimo at the beginning of the season. Another competition is the Taca de Portugal, as we try hold onto our 2-0 lead we took against Benfica in March. Finally, the most important, the Champions League. We play Man City at the Estádio AXA in the 2nd leg of the quarter-final in front of what will be a near sell-out as we try to come back from the one goal deficit that hangs over us from the 1st leg.

Player of the Month

James Rodríguez


A brilliant month from our record signing, he bagged four goals in the month of March and was unfortunately ineligible for the Champions League games against Barcelona and Man City which is one of the reasons why we lost both ties.

Batshuayi Hits Fifty




Following the 5-0 win against mid-table Marítimo, Batshuayi managed to get himself in the Braga record books after scoring his 34th league goal of the season, overtaking the previous record of 33 which was held by former Braga striker Chico Gordo in the 1977/78 season, a season where Braga finished fourth, behind Sporting (3rd), Benfica (2nd) and Porto (1st).

That was 39 years ago, though. This year, Braga are on course for winning their third Portuguese title in three years as well as being favourites for both the League Cup Final and Taca de Portugal Final where they will play against Rio Ave (League Cup) and Olhanense (Taca de Portugal).

Following his great first two years at the club, Batshuayi has attracted worldwide admirers, with clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid all after the Belgian striker's signature.

Since Azevedo's decision to take over the Belgian national team, Batshuayi and his boss' relationship seems to have grown and looks set to stay at the Estádio AXA as Braga defeated Manchester City to go through to the Champions League Semi-Final against FC Bayern Munich.

Batshuayi's valuation has increased since his arrival for €8m - his release clause at former club Standard Liége to around €25m according to website www.transfermarkt.com, but you can imagine Azevedo's valuation being much, much higher than that. It would take huge money to take Batshuayi off of Braga's hands in his current form.
dat photoshop doe. BATSHUAYI! Alex doesn't like him ;)
Wow, dat photoshop skillz. Good player though, and what a landmark!
Wow, Batshuayi has been awesome for you! Fifty goals really is a lot :P

FC Bayern Munich vs Sporting Clube de Braga

UEFA Champions League Semi-Final 2nd Leg
Allianz Arena, München


Commentators:
Jeremy Pauker (JP)
Sean-Paul Lodovico (SL)

JP: Hello, welcome to the Allianz Arena in Germany for the Champions League Semi-Final Second Leg. It's FC Bayern München of Germany vs Sporting Clube de Braga of Portugal, both top their respective leagues at this moment in time.

SL: It's definitely gonna be a good-un tonight, the managers have released the line-ups tonight, here they are!



JP: There's a large gulf of quality between the two line-ups but Braga have proved their quality by beating Barcelona and Man City, not to mention they're already winning 2-1 here!

SL: Armando Azevedo has certainly worked his magic with this Braga team yet again, the average age of this starting line-up set out by Azevedo has an average age of 23 years old, it contains only one player over 30 years old, Andrea Pirlo. Bayern boss Josep Gueardiola has picked eleven players, with an average age of 26 years old.

JP: Just over 65,000 have packed into the Allianz Arena, approximately three thousand Braga fans have made the 3,120 mile round trip from the north of Portugal to Munich tonight, incredible support on their part.

SL: The game's about to start now, Lewandowski has the ball on the center spot and the whistles gone! We're underway! Lewandowski passes to Thiago for the kick off, passes it all the way back to Jores Okore... Pardini's intercepted! He's sped away from Okore and Boateng! One on one with Manuel Neuer!!! Goaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal!!!!!!!!!!! ELEVEN SECONDS IN AND FEDERICO PARDINI HAS GIVEN BRAGA THE LEAD! SIMPLY AMAZING! THE STUFF OF DREAMS FOR BRAGA FANS!

JP: Incredible, simply incredible. Look at those Braga fans in the corner, they're going mad!

JP - 11 minutes in: Thiago has a free-kick right on the edge of the box for Bayern. HE must shoot from here... It's a poor shot, caught by Oliver Baumann. He's booted it up towards Pardini, Bruma nods it down to the experienced Pirlo. Back to Bruma, tries to launch a ball over Romeu's head to Pardini but headed straight back to Bruma. He's played it inside to Andrea Pirlo. Pardini now. Tries to lay it back to Jonathan Silva but Muller cuts it out easily, switches to Kroos on the opposite wing, Alaba on the overlap, gives it to Martinez! It's hit the post! Ever so unlucky for Bayern! Away by N'Gouma.
Lahm throws it to Muller, offside.


SL - 44 minutes in: Baumann takes the goal kick, Romeu gets to it first by heading it to Thiago. Muller fires a beautiful, gliding pass into Kroos who hits it on the volley!!! Goal! WHAT A HIT! Kroos has put that away brilliantly, but they are still one goal behind Braga going into the break!

Half-Time
FC Bayern 1(2) - 1(3)S.C. Braga


JP - 46 minutes in: Batshuayi passes to Pardini for the kick-off. He's held onto it in the centre and Martinez has fouled Pardini on the center spot, not a great start to the second half for him.
Ramalho takes the free-kick. Short to N'Gouma and passed to the central midfielder, Havel. Ignjovski now on the right hand side. Pirlo receives the ball from the right hand side. He's linked up with fellow Italian Pardini. Flies past Boateng with ease, takes a shot across goal! Well wide from the Italian striker.


SL - 77 minutes in: Alaba takes out former teammate Wellington Nem near the touchline, called over by the referee. He's received a booking for that challenge. Batshuayi takes the free-kick, far behind the penalty box. Whips a ball in, beautiful ball, Romaric N'Gouma controls it on his chest perfectly, hits it on the volley! Hits the post! Unlucky for the French center-back!

JP - 83 minutes in: Baumann takes the free-kick, near the half-way line. Gives it short to André Ramalho. N'Gouma now. Viktor Havel receives it. Thiago intercepts his attempted pass, gives it to Martinez. Romeu hits a long ball to nobody but Jonathan Silva who heads it to Havel, nodded down to Pirlo. He's seen Batshuayi signalling a run and hits a through pass, just left of him and the fifty goal man has burst away from his marker, Okore! He's one-on-one!!! He's chipped it, It's on target, IT'S A GOAL! BRAGA ARE GOING THROUGH TO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL!!! YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE IT! AZEVEDO HAS PULLED OFF A MIGHTY WIN FOR BRAGA! WHAT AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY! ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE, BATSHUAYI HAS DONE IT YET AGAIN!

SL: Unbelievable stuff right here. Azevedo has stamped his name into footballing history tonight. Viewers, savour this moment, as it signals a new era for football, the Braga era. The Azevedo era. Call it what you want but Braga are taking on the world right now under Azevedo. Incredible.

JP - 92 minutes in: We're in the dying moments of the game here. It's happening. It's really happening, Braga are beating FC Bayern Munich 4-2 on aggregate here. Something no one would have pictured beforehand. Ignjovski throws it to Pirlo, Wellington Nem now, flies a ball over to Pardini, Bruma on the left-wing now. Must beat Lahm to get a cross in, but it doesn't matter, the captain has given away a foul on the winger. Braga will take their time with this.
Batshuayi runs-up... He doesn't have to take it! BRAGA ARE THROUGH TO THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL AFTER AN UNBELIEVABLE NIGHT IN BRAGA'S HISTORY. AZEVEDO IS AN ABSOLUTE MASTERMIND!


SL: Three years ago, Braga hadn't won a Portuguese Premier League title, now they're in a Champions League Final after winning two league titles, on course for a third consecutive title win. What Azevedo has done for Braga is beyond belief.

Final Score:
FC Bayern 1(2) - 2(4) S.C. Braga

Braga go through to the UEFA Champions League Final
Batshuayi.
2014-08-01 16:42#187654 Pauker : Batshuayi.
I'd let him use my body after this season.

League Cup Final

Braga vs Rio Ave
Estádio do Dragao
23/4/16
Attendance: 34,081

After an early Rio Ave goal early on gave them the lead, we had a short spell of domination during the 20 to 30 minute mark as we took the lead through goals from Michy Batshuayi (20) and Lima (23). After this came a late goal from Rio Ave's Luis Gustavo on the 83-minute mark.
All 34,000 fans into the ground expected it to go down to extra-time, but a surging run into the box by clinical striker Batshuayi earned himself a penalty in the 89th minute, which he converted.
But that wasn't it from us, departing striker Lima took it upon himself to rub it in a bit more with a fourth in the 94th minute of the game, a tap-in.

Braga 4 - 2 Rio Ave

Heldon (3)
Michy Batshuayi (20, 89)
Lima (23, 90+4)

Luis Gustavo (83)

Liga Zon Sagres - Final Game

Belenenses vs Braga
Estádio do Restelo
8/5/16
Attendance: 12,597

As we took the lead at the top of the table on goal difference, the game against Belenenses was so important to win, and carrying on our League Cup win momentum, we were very positive heading into this game. We dominated the first half, with Wellington Nem, Federico Pardini and Michy Batshuayi all scoring in the first half and a Belenenses goal made it 3-1 heading into the break.
Just three minutes after the second half kick off, Michy Batshuayi decided it was time to win the league by scoring the fourth goal, as the game finished 4-1, Braga fans flooded the pitch as the Belenenses fans applauded and singing "Campeones! Campeones!" to the Braga fans and team.
FC Porto's game finished 1-0 against Braga's fiercest rivals Vitória Guimaraes, so that was another reason to be happy.

Belenenses 1 - 4 Braga
FC Porto 1 - 0 Vitória Guimaraes


Taca de Portugal Final

Braga vs Olhanense
Estádio Nacional
15/5/16
Attendance: 36,135

Following Olhanense's 9-0 loss the last time they played Braga in the league, they were out, looking for revenge against the reigning champions of Portugal, they got exactly the opposite. Yet another thrashing for the relegated side. André Ramalho got the scoring underway in the first minute of the game, unfortunately, there was many more to come for them.
Italian striker Federico Pardini scored the next goal in the 11th minute to make it 2-0, then Romaric N'Gouma for the third and James Rodríguez for the fourth goal put past Olhanense keeper Fernando Henrique. The next came from Federico Pardini again in the 26th minute to make it 5-0 before the game reached the thirty minute mark.
Wellington Nem then added a sixth, scoring in the 33rd minute.
Braga then eased off the pressure on Olhanense but still managed to put a seventh goal in via Michy Batshuayi in the 58th minute.

Braga 7 - 0 Olhanense

André Ramalho (1)
Federico Pardini (11, 26)
Romaric N'Gouma (22)
James Rodríguez (24)
Wellington Nem (33)
Michy Batshuayi (58)


Champions League Final

Real Madrid vs Braga
Millennium Stadium, Wales
21/5/16
Attendance: 72,500

As the world prepared for a Real Madrid walkover, 72,500 fans packed into the Welsh Rugby Team's Millennium Stadium were shocked to see a young Braga side completely take the former Spanish champions apart in what was the icing on the cake for Braga's season.
Madrid had faced Braga twice in the Champions League Group Stages and won 4-1 in one game but drew the other, 2-2. But with a new-look Braga with the returning André Ramalho and new signing Wellington Nem in the starting line-up it took Real Madrid totally by surprise.
Ramalho had added stability to a young back-line since returning from his Botafogo loan spell in January and Wellington Nem had added so much pace down the left hand side, compensating for the loss of Sadio Mané to Freiburg for €19m.
In front of a full capacity Millennium Stadium, Braga created their own history as well as Champions League history.
It was a quiet first half where Madrid had taken control of most of the 45 minutes but I don't know if Martin Luther King had walked into the Braga dressing room and gave a speech, but Braga tore Real Madrid's defence of Sergio Ramos, Stefan Savic, Mamadou Sakho and Marcelo apart.
It was Michy Batshuayi who got on the scoreboard first with a goal in the 51st minute - his 61st goal of the season, an incredible feit.
Portuguese winger, Bruma added a second in the 66th minute as he passed it into the goal, across Diego Lopez's outsretched body.
Finally, 18 year old Italian, Federico Pardini showed that if you're good enough, you're old enough as he bagged the final goal by a header from a Batshuayi cross in the 76th minute.
As the referee blew the whistle to signal the end of 90 minutes, it also signalled a party that was about to start all around Cardiff as 36,000 Braga fans packed into the streets of Wales and partied long into the night. A truly memorable moment for all football fans across the world.

Real Madrid 0 - 3 Braga

Michy Batshuayi (51)
Bruma (66)
Federico Pardini (76)



Wow. What an amazing season! You've really made this Braga team one of the world's best teams :D
Amazing win against Real as well, 3-0 is great!

Poland vs Belgium

Stade Bordeaux Atlantique
EURO 2016


Presenter: Hello and welcome to EURO 2016! Today's match will be Poland vs Belgium, it is new Belgium manager Armando Azevedo's first game in charge of Belgium so it'll certainly be interesting to see how much work he's done on the team since he took the post back in June last year. Here are the line-ups:


No Robert Lewandowksi for Poland as he is currently recovering from an injury he suffered in the last game of the season for Bayern Munich.
The referee has the whistle in his mouth and we head over to our commentator today.


1: Yes, both managers have led their teams out, Azevedo does it for the first time and Benteke's about to kick us off here.

17: Pocognoli heads it away, straight to Pazdan's feet. Kosecki here. Knocks it back to Klich, he's spotted Boenisch's run down the left! One-on-one! WHAT A SAVE BY COURTOIS! SUPERB STUFF!
Corner kick, Kosecki looks to inswing it. He's picked out De Bruyne who heads it out, Benteke gets outpaced by Klich. Boenisch has it now.


33: Pocognoli takes the throw-in deep inside Polish territory. Hazard sends in a beautiful volley-cross into the box, caught by Pawlowski. Bowled out to Boenisch. Pazdan on the edge of his own box now. Passback to Pawlowski. Smacked forward, but only finds Alderweireld's head. Klich nods it out right to Wszolek but Pocognoli intercepts.
Benteke gathers it in his own half for Belgium. De Bruyne now. Dembélé takes control in the middle. Hazard in acres of space now! Way wide, shocking effort from the winger.


45+1: Boenisch takes the throw-in. Klich, who's been the man with the plan this half for Poland. Krychowiak has it now. Boenisch again. Borysiuk here, Wszolek has it, passes it straight to Kompany's feet.
Dembélé lends Hazard the ball. Brilliant run inside, and with beautiful vision finds De Bruyne on the right flank. Crosses it in! Finds Batshuayi!!! Goal! He does it for Braga under Azevedo, he's doing it for Belgium under Azevedo! It's Azevedo's first goal as Belgium manager and it's come from his mate at Braga, Michy Batshuayi. Belgium one, Poland nil!


46: Sobiech kicks off the second half here.

50: Hazard has a corner here, high up in the air, Kompany heads it backwards to De Bruyne... Hits it low and powerful! De Bruyne scores for Belgium! Brilliant teamwork inside the area by Kompany to head it to De Bruyne and it's Belgium two, Poland nil!

53: Sobiech gives it to Krychowiak. Blazczykowski has it now. Finds Sobiech brilliantly! Goal for Poland!!! Hang on, no it's been flagged at the near side. The goal doesn't count, I repeat, the goal doesn't count! It's still Belgium two, Poland nil.

60: Pawlowski takes the goal kick. Short to Matuszczyk. Pazdan has it now. Back to Pawlowski. Kosecki has been found and he's given it to Sobiech who's made a brilliant run, he's onside... Whips it in to Blazczykowski!!! What a save!!! Thibaut Courtois has possibly made the save of the tournament!!!
Crossed into the back post... Pazdan's there!!! Goal! Poland have one back! It's Belgium two, Poland one! Game on!


94: Hazard crosses it in from the corner... Alderweireld's been tripped by Glik! Penalty given! Benteke steps up... And puts the game beyond any doubt! It's Belgium three, Poland one!

Great victory in the first match, Batshuayi LAD scores again! :D

Azevedo Signalling Braga Exit


Today Sporting Clube de Braga boss Armando Azevedo has confirmed that he has shown interest in the vacant Derby County managerial role which was left behind by former Sheffield Wednesday gaffer Dave Jones.

"They have approached me about a potential managerial role over there, yes." Said Azevedo, shocking the journalists that were present.
"I don't feel I am underestimating the power of Braga when I say I have done everything I can here. I had one aim when I sat down with my team back in July 2013, that was to make my boyhood team European champions. I've done that here." He said, referring to the 3-0 Champions League Final win over Real Madrid.
"Derby are in the third tier of English football. They were relegated last season. And they are a prestigious club as well. They are in the soul of English football, just like Braga in Portuguese football.

"Many years ago they were in European Cup, the Champions League as it's known now. That was under a man called Brian Clough, one of the greatest English managers to ever live. He had a big ego, but he had a brilliant managerial ability to combat it. This drew admiration across the country for him. He took Derby from the depths of football, all the way to the top. An admirable achievement.

"I want to do that. They've been stuck down in the lower leagues for too long. I love Braga, it's a beautiful team but Azevedo needs a new adventure." He said before leaving the conference room.

This seems to confirm a deal in place to bring Azevedo to Derby County, a huge step down following winning 5 trophies just last season, including the league and Champions League. It's been a great adventure for Azevedo but he seems focused on a move to England.
WELL?!?!?! I've been waiting for an update to see if he leaves or not :P
ooh should be cool to see you work your magic over a new club

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