Both looking to secure a spot in the league phase of the competition, Rapid Vienna and Braga will clash for the second leg of their Europa League playoff on Thursday night.
The Arcebispos have a one-goal advantage following last week's meeting, meaning that the Green and Whites need to a record a victory in this one to keep their continental dreams alive.
Match preview
© Imago
Following an unbeaten start to their summer across pre-season friendlies, the Austrian Bundesliga and the qualifying rounds of the Europa League, back-to-back defeats over the past week have threatened to derail Rapid Vienna's excellent start to the 2024-25 schedule.
Travelling to Estadio Municipal de Braga on August 22 for the first leg, the Green and Whites found themselves down to 10 men after just two minutes due to Lukas Grgic's red card, and although they took the lead through Guido Burgstaller, the visitors were unable to hold on for a positive result, losing 2-1.
Sunday afternoon saw a highly-disappointing display from Rapid Vienna in the Austrian Bundesliga, with a brace from Ronivaldo and a first-half strike from winger Simon Pirkl securing a three-goal success for BW Linz at Hofmann Personal Stadion, ending the visitors' unbeaten run domestically.
The Green and Whites now require a stellar home performance against Braga in order to advance into the League Phase, with Thursday's hosts cutting a formidable figure at Allianz Stadion in Europe so far this term, winning consecutive matches by an aggregate scoreline of 8-1.
© Imago
Braga extended their winning run in all competitions to three matches with the 2-1 success over Rapid Vienna in the first leg last Thursday, when goals either side of the half-time whistle from Carvalho and Rodrigo Zalazar secured a second-leg advantage for the Primeira Liga outfit.
Taking to the top-flight stage for the third time this campaign, the Arcebispos managed a 3-1 victory over Moreirense on the weekend, with attacker Zalazar at the double following a first-half effort from 21-year-old Spaniard Gabri Martinez, who netted his maiden goal for the club.
Making an appearance at the group stage of the Champions League last season, reaching the League Phase of this term's Europa League will be an expectation for Braga on Thursday night, when they travel to Austria knowing that a draw would be enough to knock Rapid Vienna out of the competition.
Looking to improve on a fourth-placed finish in the Primeira Liga last campaign, the Arcebispos are currently occupying the same placement after three games, collecting seven points from their opening three league contests.
Team News
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Rapid Vienna remain without the services of Bernhard Zimmermann, who is still recovering from a cruciate ligament injury sustained in April.
The Green and Whites are also unable to call upon the talents of Noah Bischof, with the 21-year-old in the medical room due to a muscle injury.
Thierry Gale managed seven matches for Rapid Vienna last term before picking up a ligament injury - the youngster is expected back in action next month.
Subbed off just 23 minutes into the first leg, Braga's Bruma is a doubt for Thursday's clash, meaning that the visitors might need to include a new face in attack.
Fresh off scoring in the Primeira Liga, Martinez is the most obvious candidate for the role, although Andre Horta could also be in line for a promotion from the bench.
Rapid Vienna possible starting lineup:
Hedl; Bolla, Cvetkovic, Yao, Auer; Sangare, Schaub, Seidl, Burgstaller, Jansson; Bejlo
Braga possible starting lineup:
Matheus; Gomez, Arrey-Mbi, Bambu, Marin; Fernandes, Zalazar, Carvalho; R Horta, Martinez, El Ouazzani
We say: Rapid Vienna 0-1 Braga (Braga win 3-1 on aggregate)
Rapid Vienna did well to only lose by a single goal as they battled on with 10 men for the majority of the contest at Braga during the first leg.
That being said, the Green and Whites looked very poor in their Bundesliga showing on the weekend, so we cannot envisage a positive result for the Austrians at Allianz Stadion.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
