Sp. Braga lost this Thursday, by 0-4, to Fiorentina in the first leg of the play off access to the round of 16 of the Conference League, having seriously compromised the future in European competitions.
In their debut in the third UEFA club competition, Braga experienced many difficulties practically from the first minute to counteract the football of the Italians, who wasted a great opportunity in the first attack on Matheus’ area.
Former Benfica and Real Madrid player Luka Jovic – who scored twice in the match – missed a flagrant occasion against the Brazilian goalkeeper, allowing Matheus to save. Sp. Braga had to support, in a first phase, the greatest intensity of training “viola“.
Despite the return of Ricardo Horta, Sp. Braga could not take over the game, having been forced to put out some fires before Niakaté and Abel Ruiz gave the first sign of danger close to the first half hour of the game, especially in the move of the Spanish striker, who missed the goal by very little .
Fiorentina continued to exploit all the hesitations of the Minho team, such as a slip by Matheus, but only in the added time did they reach the goal, by Luka Jovic (45+1′), in a header that finished off a cross from the left.
Bisa Jovic in Braga! ???#sporttvportugal #CONFERENCEnaSPORTTV #ConferenceLeague #SCBraga #Fiorentina #jovic pic.twitter.com/Xt2OyWP8iO
— SPORT TV (@SPORTTVPortugal) February 16, 2023
Conditioned by the unfavorable result, Artur Jorge bet on Bruma for the second half. But the expulsion of Tormena (55′), following a hard tackle on Jovic (a move scrutinized by VAR), drastically reduced the chances of the Portuguese team.
So much so that just five minutes later, the same Luka Jovic scored (60′), on the line, the second goal of the team from Florence, after a cross from Saponara.
Already without Jovic on the field, who gave way to Arthur Cabral, it was up to the Brazilian to close the accounts. Cabral needed just four minutes (79′) to raise the numbers and a dozen more to score twice and conclude the tie, which also includes a trip to Florence, where Sp. Braga will have to carry a heavy bag.