Rueful Shakhtar wary of Braga resurgence
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Article summary
Mircea Lucescu admits that Shakhtar's failure to see out a 2-0 win at Braga last week could come back to haunt his players. "It's a dangerous situation," he warns.
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Article body
- Wilson Eduardo's late goal gave Braga hope last week, restricting Shakhtar to a 2-1 victory
- Braga are five away games without a win, scoring just once in that time
- Shakhtar have won all three previous meetings between the teams
- Braga have scored just three goals in five UEFA Europa League away matches this term
- Semi-final draw streamed live from Nyon at 12.30CET on Friday 15 April
Possible lineups
Shakhtar: Pyatov; Srna, Kucher, Ordets, Ismaily; Stepanenko, Malyshev, Marlos, Kovalenko, Bernard; Ferreyra.
Out: Azevedo (knee), Rakitskiy (suspended)
Doubtful: Taison (thigh)
Misses next match if booked: Ismaily, Srna, Marlos, Stepanenko
Braga: Matheus; Marcelo Goiano, Boly, Arghus, Djavan; Mauro, Filipe Augusto, Josué, Rafa Silva; Wilson Eduardo, Stojiljković.
Out: Alan (adductor), Pedro Santos (knee), Baiano (thigh), Rui Fonte (foot)
Doubtful: none
Misses next match if booked: Josué, Vukčević
Mircea Lucescu, Shakhtar coach
Every team is of a similar standard at this stage, and all of them know how to play good football. The game against Braga will be no exception. We anticipate a very hard match. We could have won by more in Portugal. Now our advantage is slight and it's a dangerous situation.
We have conceded late goals [in three of our last four fixtures] so let's hope it will not happen again. Anyway, I can't do anything about that because everything depends on the focus of my players in the closing minutes.
Paulo Fonseca, Braga coach
We can still turn this tie around. It does not matter to me if the probability of that happening is big or small. Shakhtar are strong and they have the advantage, but that does not take away any of our ambitions to win here in Ukraine.
Our team always play the same way and having to win will not change our approach. We know how to dictate the rhythm of a match and we always try to play in the opposition half – regardless of the opponent, competition and circumstances.
Weekend results
Stal 3-3 Shakhtar (Kalenchuk 38, Lazić 61, Ishchenko 90+3; Eduardo 51, Dentinho 72, Malyshev 79)
Braga 1-1 Moreirense (Boly 90+5; Evaldo 51)
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
Shakhtar: DWWLWW
Braga: DLLWWL
Did you know?
Braga are the most fouled side in the competition with 160 infringements against them over the 11 matchdays – 22 more than any other team still in contention. Read more in our match background.