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Between a rock, but is it a hard place?
Spurs record in Europe:-
European Cup
P W D L F - A
8 4 1 3 21 - 13
(Semi-Finalists 1962)
European Cup Winners Cup
P W D L F - A
33 20 5 8 65 - 34
(Winners 1963)
UEFA Cup
P w D L F - A
64 41 13 10 144- 44
(Winners 1972, 1984
Finalists 1974)
Total
P W D L F - A
105 65 19 21 230-91
Group B Table - Rd 2 (5)
P W D L F-A Pts
1. Spurs 4 4 0 0 9-2 12
2. D. Bucuresti 4 2 1 1 6-6 7
3. B. Leverkusen 4 1 1 2 4-5 4
4. Besiktas 4 1 0 3 4-7 3
4. Club Brugge 4 0 2 2 4-7 2
Braga's results in Europe this season
Braga 2-0 Chievo
Chievo 2-1 Braga
AZ Alkmaar 3-0 Braga
Braga 4-0 Slovan Liberec
Sevilla 2-0 Braga
Braga 2-0 Grasshoppers
Group C Table - Rd 2 (5)
P W D L F-A Pts
1.AZ Alkmaar 4 3 1 0 12-5 10
2.Sevilla 4 2 1 1 7-2 7
3.Sporting Braga 4 2 0 2 6-5 6
4.Slovan Liberec 4 1 2 1 6-7 5
5.Grasshoppers 4 0 0 4 3-15 0
Braga 1-0 Parma
Parma 0-1 Braga
Most people know by now that "Sporting Clube de Braga" wear Arsenal colours; that their fans are known as the "Arsenalistas"; and that their stadium only has two stands (along both sides of the pitch), due to the fact that the stadium (inaugurated in 2003 and used during Euro 2004) was carved out of the hill-side, and has solid rock walls behind each goal. The stadium still holds 30,154, and there will be plenty of Spurs fans there tomorrow, I'm sure!
Braga are currrently fourth in the Portuguese Superliga. They were established in 1921, and the reason for the link with Arsenal is that in the 1930s, their coach visited Hignbury and was apparently smitten with Herbert Chapman's team. That's when they changed their strip. Spurs fans will need no more incentive to urge on their team to great success in this tie!
Braga have not got a lot in their Trophy locker, but they have had some good results over the traditional big Portuguese teams in the last couple of seasons. They finished fourth in their league last season. There have been a couple of changes during this season regarding management, but currently former Portuguese International Jorge Costa is in charge.
Braga finished third in their Round Two group, and have won all of their home games played in this season's UEFA Cup. They lost two of their group games (to AZ Alkmaar and Sevilla) and also lost their away leg in the first round game against Chievo from Italy. Braga convincingly won their home games in Round Two, and beat Parma 1-0 home and away to reach this stage, whilst Spurs of course had a break at the expense of the banned Feyenoord!
Braga lost 1-0 away to Porto at the week-end, but did beat them at home earlier in the season, so Spurs have a potentially difficult game ahead of them, not least because of the number of Brazilians that compliment the locals in the squad, together with the likes of Argentinean midfielder Andres Madrid. Madrid hasn't played since November though, so I assume he wil not feature in this game.
There is no one dominant goal-scorer for Braga, but midfielder Paulo Jorge Soares (not to be confused with the goalkeeper Paulo Jorge Santos!) has 6 to his name this season. The Brazilian Wender has scored 7, and his compatriot Ze Carlos has 4 to his name, including an 81st minute winner in the home game against Parma.
Braga have lost just two home games this season (not since October), and have won 7 of the 8 games since that defeat.
Spurs of course travel in great spirits (not just the team!), due to their current run of form with four consecutive wins. We would all love to see that run increase to five, then six on Sunday at Stamford Bridge!
I have heard no team news as yet, but believe that Ricardo Rocha is not available, as he has played for Benfica in this season's Champions' League. That should mean that the back four is the same as Sunday. Hopefully Steed Malbranque and Jermaine Jenas will be fit and available for selection, but of course Tainio and Huddlestone will be competing for a place in the middle too. There are plenty of options for Martin Jol then, with Robbie Keane back, and Adel Taarabt likely to be in the squad.
Stop Press! The team news is in and Ekotto, Mido, Ledley, Jenas, and Murphy are absent with injury. Malbranque and Zokora return, and Rocha is confirmed as ineligible
I fancy Spurs to sneak a 1-0 win. I shall be travelling to Portugal, and will report on Friday!
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