Goulash and goals in the Groupama
Budapest in March isn't exactly where you'd go for a tan, but the Groupama Arena is set to be the hottest spot in Europe this Thursday. Ferencvaros, the undisputed kings of Hungary who treat their domestic league like a private playground, are hosting Braga in a Round of 16 clash that screams "trap game" louder than a Portuguese fado singer. It is the business end of the Europa League, where UEFA hands out glory and slightly-above-average meal vouchers to the survivors.
The Green Eagles are currently 1st in the NB I, and they clawed their way here by finishing 12th in the League Phase with 15 points before tossing Ludogorets aside in the play-offs. They have Barnabás Varga, a man who finds the back of the net with the same frequency that Budapest tourists find ruin bars. With 20 goals this season, he is basically a walking cheat code in a green shirt. If the Braga defense treats him with their usual "optional marking" strategy, it is going to be a bloodbath.
Braga, meanwhile, continues their eternal quest to be the "fourth big" in Portugal. Currently 4th in the Primeira Liga with 46 points, they have perfected the art of being ALMOST elite. They bypassed the play-offs by finishing 6th in the league phase with 17 points, which gave them an extra week to polish their boots and contemplate why they can’t quite crack the top three. It is a tough life being the eternal bridesmaid, but at least the weather is better in Minho.
The Portuguese side arrives in Hungary after a 2-2 draw with Sporting CP, proving once again that their defense has the structural integrity of a wet croissant. Rodrigo Zalazar and Ricardo Horta will need to be on their game because if they let the Hungarian crowd get under their skin, it is going to be a very long flight back to the Atlantic coast. This is a team that can look like prime Barcelona one minute and a pub side the next.
Expect a match that oscillates between tactical masterclass and pure, unadulterated CHAOS. Braga has the technical pedigree, but Ferencvaros has the momentum and a stadium that sounds like a jet engine during takeoff.
Prediction: Ferencvaros 2-1 Braga