Braga Favored to Seal Home Win Over Zeljeznicar

The second leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League second qualifying round will be played in the early hours of Friday, July 31, with Braga at home to Zeljeznicar. Holding a 1-0 lead from the first leg, Braga are well placed to finish the job on home soil.

Braga have been in excellent form, going unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions with five wins and one draw. During that run they have scored 13 goals and conceded only three, showing strong control at both ends of the pitch. In the first meeting, forward Ricardo Horta converted a penalty to give Braga a 1-0 away win.

Braga were somewhat cautious against an unfamiliar opponent in the first leg and managed only four shots in the entire match, but they still came away with the victory. As one of the stronger sides in the Portuguese top flight, Braga hold clear advantages over Zeljeznicar in squad quality, European experience and recent consistency, and returning home only strengthens their position.

Zeljeznicar, by contrast, have been inconsistent lately, posting two wins, one draw and three defeats from their last six matches in all competitions. Although they did record a 2-1 win over Renikilis in the Serbian league, that has been more of an isolated bright spot. Against the higher intensity of European competition, they have looked short of the required level, and the 1-0 home defeat in the first leg has left them on the back foot.

Zeljeznicar, from Serbia, first emerged in 2020 and finished fourth in the Serbian top flight last season to secure the club's first-ever place in European competition. However, their first continental campaign has handed them a difficult draw against a Braga side with both quality and European pedigree. On paper, this trip looks extremely difficult for the visitors.