DAILY NEWS: FC Porto v Sporting Braga - live!

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Preamble:
These teams are from the same country and tonight they seek the same prize – but that's about all they have in common. On one hand we have Porto, long one of the top clubs in Europe, a side who have just finished their domestic league unbeaten and 21 points clear of their nearest pursuers, and who have a fearsome forward line in the form of Falcao and Hulk as well as the most acclaimed young manager in the continent, 33-year-old André Villa Boas. And on the other hand we have Braga, a humble club whose only major is the 1966 Portuguese Cup (what it about 1966 and minnows winning cups?), who finished fourth in their domestic league this season, and in the process suffered two defeats by Porto. Indeed, that tends to be how their meetings go: Porto have won 92 of the 131 previous encounters between these clubs, Braga have triumphed in just 17. It would be a minor revolution if the underdogs were to prevail tonight.

Facts or varying relevance:
1) If Braga win tonight, Domingos Pacienca will become the first manager in Uefa Cup/Europa League history to win in the final against a team he used to play for. He was Porto's top scorer in the 1995/96 season
2) Porto goalkeeper Helton is 33 today. So is Ricardo Carvahlo. Lady Gaga is not, but I thought I'd mention her just to boost Google click-throughs.
3) Free porn.

Oh, and here are the teams:
Porto: Helton; Sapunaru, Rolando, Otamendi, Alvaro Pereira; Guarin, Fernando, Moutinho; Hulk, Falcao, Varela
Subs: Beto, Maicon, Belluschi, Walter, Rodriguez, Souza, Ruben Michel

Braga: Artur; Miguel Garcia, Paulao, Alberto Rodriguez, Silvio; Custodio, Hugo Viana, Vandinho; Alan, Lima, Paulo Cesar
Subs: Cristiano, Kaka, Mossoro, Barbos, Meyong, Elderson, Salino

Ref: C V Carballo (Spain)

Paul Doyle

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

19 May, 2011

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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/18/porto-braga-europa-league-final
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