Europa League Unmissable Clash: Celtic Host Struggling Braga in Pivotal Group Stage Battle

Unmissable Europa League Clash: 3 Crushing Problems for Braga

The hallowed turf of Celtic Park is set for a dramatic Europa League encounter this Thursday, but the visitors from Portugal arrive in Glasgow bearing the weight of a significant crisis.

Sporting Braga, despite a positive start to their European campaign with a matchday one victory over Feyenoord, land in Scotland under intense pressure. Their domestic form has collapsed, culminating in a shocking 1-0 home loss to lowly Nacional this past weekend. This result extended their winless run in Liga Portugal to five games, plunging them to seventh in the table and sparking fury among their fanbase.

The discontent was palpable, with supporters directing the dreaded waving of white handkerchiefs—a classic Iberian symbol of protest—towards the dugout. The target of their frustration is head coach Carlos Vicens, Pep Guardiola’s former assistant at Manchester City, who is finding life as the main man to be brutally unforgiving.

Vicens publicly criticized his squad’s attitude after the latest defeat, stating the performance was “unacceptable.” His rise from a work-experience role at City to a trusted member of Guardiola’s first-team staff was meteoric. However, his bold move to strike out on his own at Braga is now facing its first major test. What began promisingly with a 4-1 aggregate win over Cluj and two emphatic league victories has quickly soured.

The context makes this trip to Glasgow a daunting prospect. Braga’s recent away form in Europe is a major concern. Last season, they managed just a single point on their travels, losing to clubs like Roma and Union St Gilloise. This historical weakness, combined with their current domestic slump, provides a significant advantage to a Celtic side known for its formidable home atmosphere.

Further compounding Braga’s problems are their big-money signings failing to deliver immediate returns. Spanish striker Pau Victor, a £10.5m signing from Barcelona, has yet to find his scoring touch. To make matters worse, key midfielder Mario Dorgeles (£9.6m from Nordsjaelland) is a major doubt for the match, having been absent for their last five fixtures.

The match also marks an emotional return for Gustaf Lagerbielke. The Swedish centre-half, who left Celtic for Braga in the summer after making just 10 appearances under Brendan Rodgers, has become a virtual ever-present for his new club. He will be desperate to prove a point against his former teammates and help shore up a beleaguered Braga defense.

For Celtic, this presents a golden opportunity to secure a vital three points at home. By exploiting Braga’s fragile confidence and poor away record, Brendan Rodgers’ men can take a massive step toward the knockout stages. All eyes will be on Celtic Park to see if the Scottish champions can capitalize on a team in turmoil, or if Carlos Vicens can summon a resilient response and save his job with a stunning European result.

Coverage: You can listen to live commentary on BBC Radio Scotland Extra & Sounds and follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website & app. Kick-off is at 17:45 BST.