Austria Vienna vs Braga – News and Probable Lineups

With the odds stacked against them in their quest to keep hopes of advancing in the Conference League alive, Áustria Vienna must overcome a two-goal deficit when they face Braga at Generali Arena for the second leg of their qualifying playoff.

The Violets experienced a 2-0 loss last week in Minho during the first match of this encounter, putting them in danger of not securing a spot in the continental main stage for the first time since their 2022-23 group-stage performance in this third-tier European competition.

Match overview

Áustria Vienna’s success on the road has been a crucial factor in their advancement to this stage of the tournament, having won against FK Liepaja both home and away in the second qualifying round before progressing from the following round on penalties after their first-leg win over Beitar Jerusalem was nullified.

Given that, it would not have been unreasonable to expect Stephan Helm’s team to secure a positive result in Minho last week; however, they were thoroughly outplayed, allowing 3.12 xG while producing just 0.38 of their own after facing 14 shots and managing to retain 42% of the ball possession.

While Pau Victor’s inability to convert a second penalty in the 84th minute kept the Violets in close proximity, Diego Rodrigues’s goal shortly thereafter now places Áustria Vienna in a difficult position as they aim to reverse the score while also underlining their recent defensive frailties.

Die Veilchen have lost four of their last six matches outright, although one of the two victories during this stretch was a 2-0 triumph against Hartberg on August 16, a result that currently leaves them ninth in the Bundesliga standings with a game in hand over six other teams in the league.

Following the postponement of their match against WSG Tirol last weekend, Áustria Vienna approaches Thursday’s crucial match with renewed energy, but their record of winning merely two of their last nine competitive home fixtures in regulation raises concerns for a side trying to turn around a two-goal deficit.

Braga also saw their league match against Estrela Amadora delayed owing to their commitment to Thursday’s European fixture, coming one week after a gastrointestinal illness led to the cancellation of their previous Primeira Liga game against Gil Vicente.

The Archbishops continued their fine defensive form in last week’s Conference League playoff, maintaining a solid record this season as Carlos Vicens’s team has not conceded in their last five European matches, having also dispatched Zeleznicar Pancevo with a 5-0 aggregate score.

Braga remains unbeaten in eight competitive fixtures (D4) since experiencing a 3-1 defeat to Freiburg in the previous season’s Europa League semi-final after previously taking the lead in that tie, highlighting their resilience ahead of Thursday’s journey as they seek to avoid a repeat of past struggles.

Despite this, historical context provides Braga with added motivation as they aim to reach the continental main stage for the eighth year in a row; although this could mark their lowest starting point in the European draw during this period, as their last seven entries have been in either the Europa League or Champions League.

Team News

Áustria Vienna did not report any additional injury concerns from last week’s first leg in Braga, but the Violets continue to be without Philipp Wiesinger, Manprit Sarkaria, and Noah Botic as they recover from their respective injuries.

Head coach Helm might opt to make changes in response to that loss, with Daniel Nnodim and Kelvin Boateng both vying for starting positions in the wing-back and forward roles, respectively.

Braga has recently secured a contract extension for defender Sikou Niakate, who has signed a new four-year deal, although he is expected to be sidelined for this match as he continues to recover from a long-term Achilles tendon injury.

Club captain Ricardo Horta is likely to miss a second consecutive match after being ruled out before last week’s first leg due to a muscle strain sustained in the earlier round against Dinamo Minsk, while Bright Arrey-Mbi and recent signing Jonas Wind also face uncertainty regarding their availability.

Rodrigues is pushing for a starting spot after making a significant impact off the bench last time out, and if he is included, Fran Navarro could be dropped from the attack, potentially shifting Victor into a central forward position.

New acquisition Jovan Milosevic, assuming he is not in the starting lineup, may have the opportunity to make his debut on Thursday after completing his registration with UEFA for eligibility to participate.

Áustria Vienna probable starting XI:

Sahin-Radlinger; Buhari, Dragovic, Handl; Nnodim, Markovic, Maybach, Lee; Fischer, Hettwer; Boateng

Braga probable starting XI:

Sources; Lagerbielke, V Carvalho, Bajrami; Gomez, Tiknaz, Moutinho, G Silva; Huseinbasic, Rodrigues; Victor

Last week’s first leg was the initial encounter between these teams and it provided a clear perspective on the difference in quality, as Braga managed to secure a comfortable win despite missing their captain.

While Áustria Vienna will need to push players forward in pursuit of a comeback, overcommitting could leave them exposed to counter-attacks from the Archbishops; thus, we foresee the visitors capitalizing on such openings to secure another win and ensure their advancement.