SION VS SPORTING BRAGA - PREVIEW

Sion vs Sporting Braga

Europa League

Stade de Tourbillon. Thursday 18th February

Kick Off: 20:05

Sion may not be a renowned name in European football, but in Switzerland, similar to the way Spurs were viewed in England for many years, they a reputation as being a good cup side. With thirteen Swiss Cups to their name and just two league titles, you can understand why they have acquired this reputation. Now they are aiming to transfer these domestic cup skills onto the European stage, and after a very good group stage performance in which they finished second only by one point to Liverpool, it looks like they might have what it takes to go far in this competition. Their opponents, Braga, have some very recent history in this competition, and some might say unfinished business. During the 2010/11 season, Sporting Braga made it all the way through to the final of this very competition only to bitterly lose out to fellow Portuguese outfit, Porto. Now Braga look back and better than ever after a tough qualifying group, which included Marseille, they finished top. While things domestically are running the same old way (Brage 4th behind the big three), in the Europa League are performing above expectations and could be set for another great campaign which might this time end on a much happier note.

HEAD TO HEAD

Unsurprisingly, these two clubs have never met before but both have faced sides from their oppositions nation in the past. Sion have played against Porto before, and over their two games they conceded six and scored two. Braga faced the more established Young Boys and Grasshoppers and in their three meetings the Portuguese side never lost, scoring four and conceding just two.

PREDICTION

Neither side have reported any injuries since their last games, Braga played Maritimo on Sunday but Sion’s match against St.Gallen was postponed so they haven’t played in over a week. Time will only tell whether or not they extended period of rest will benefit or hinder the hosts who have only recently returned from their winter break. Braga go into this game in fine form, unbeaten in nine games, of which they have won an impressive seven. Both sides top scorer in the Europa League has just two goals, for the hosts that would be Konaté and for Braga its Koka. Goals have not ben easy to come by for Sion so they have had to rely on their strong defence. I think braga might just have too much for their Swiss opponents, so I’m backing them to win this first leg 1-0.