Braga host a Champions League match for the first time in over a decade, while reigning Serie A champions Napoli look to get back on track after dropping points in consecutive matches on either side of the international break.
SC Braga
Braga host a Champions League match for the first time in over a decade. Os Arcebispos reached the Group Stage via the qualification route after a third-place finish in the 2022/23 Liga Portugal campaign, nine points behind league winners Benfica and seven points behind runners-up Porto. Nevertheless, with 78 points and over 100 goals scored in all competitions, the campaign was Braga’s best season in club history. Os Guerreiros do Minho comfortably dispatched Serbian side FK TSC Backa Topola 7-1 on aggregate before beating Panathinaikos 3-1 on aggregate.
Consequently, Braga host Napoli having already played nine matches this season, which has pros and cons for the Portuguese side. On one hand, they’ve played more than double the number of matches Napoli have, allowing the team to build chemistry, which has been particularly important given the changes to the squad during the summer. Braga replaced central defender Tormena with 39-year-old veteran José Fonte. Meanwhile, Braga improved their squad depth and experience, adding left back Adrián Marín and holding midfielder Vitor Carvalho from Gil Vicente, central midfielder Rodrigo Zalazar from Schalke and 36-year-old midfielder Joāo Moutinho from Wolverhampton. At the same time, Braga held onto some key players from last season, including right back Víctor Gómez, holding midfielder Al-Musrati, left wingers Ricardo Horta, Bruma and Álvaro Djaló, and centre forward Simon Banza.
On the other hand, the physical demand on the players to compete twice a week for nearly two months has affected the club’s results domestically. Braga are currently ninth in the Liga Portugal with two wins, a draw and two defeats. Nevertheless, coach Artur Jorge, who was promoted from the Braga U23 team prior to last season, continues to play positive, attack-minded football. Braga, who line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, have already scored 20 goals across all competitions, with 11 goals coming from the wings.
SSC Napoli
Napoli are in desperate need of a win. The Italian champions had a forgettable second half against Lazio, resulting in a 2-1 defeat to last season’s runners-up. With only one full training session after the international break, the Partenopei looked equally dreadful in the first hour against Genoa. The visitors needed strong play from substitutes Jens Cajuste, Matteo Politano and Giacomo Rapsadori to salvage a point. Already down by two, Raspadori and Politano scored wonder-goals only eight minutes apart, late in the second half.
Despite the comeback, many are questioning the tactics of Rudi Garcia. Though the sample size is small, Garcia appears to have quickly undone everything Luciano Spalletti built to lead Napoli to their first Scudetto in 33 years. The Azzurri’s press lacks cohesion, the midfield is disjointed and the defense is disorganized and reactive. Garcia’s direct approach has stretched the team, leaving loads of space in the midfield for opponents to exploit. There are no longer patterns of play. Instead, the team bypasses their deep-lying playmaker Stanislav Lobotka, hoofing the ball forward to Victor Osimhen, who is often left isolated and outnumbered as he chases long balls towards the wings, pulling him away from the goal, where he should be receiving crosses, not delivering them.
Though the results (two wins and a draw) have not been terrible, the tactical approach has quickly put Napoli in a mini crisis. More questions will be asked of Garcia if his team are not able to secure all three points against the an opponent who is considered the weakest club in the group.
Injuries/Suspensions
Sikou Niakaté is unlikely to play after missing Braga’s last two matches due to an unknown injury. Otherwise, Artur Jorge’s side is fully fit.
For Napoli, Pierluigi Gollini and Diego Demme were not included in the Champions League squad and therefore will not be available in Europe until the knockout stage, should Napoli qualify. Gollini is nursing a hand injury while Demme was heavily linked to a departure at the time the squads were submitted.
Probable Formations
Manager’s Comments
Artur Jorge:
“I expect a very strong Napoli. I watched the recent matches against Lazio and Genoa. I believe a few players were rested for tomorrow. They’re a strong team, but I worry more about whether Braga will show up on the field than I worry about what to expect from Napoli. I’m doing everything I can to make sure I field a team that is ready to win.”
Rudi Garcia:
Garcia addressed the media late in the evening after Napoli’s charter flight from Capodichino Airport was delayed by four hours.
“We come to win with ambition, determination and confidence. Braga has quality and we know some players well who played in France. They have quality players like Bruma and the centre forward Luiz. They have quality but we want to start well in the Champions League group, we must be consistent tomorrow from the first minute, showing that we came here with determination, leaving everything on the pitch to start well and finish with three points.”
Previous Meetings
This is the first meeting between Napoli and Braga
Match Officials
Head Official: Serdar Gözübüyük
Assistants: Erwin E. J. Zeinstra and Johan Balder
Fourth Official: Marc Nagtegaal
VAR: Dennis Johan Higler and Rob Dieperink
