Pau Víctor scores twice as Braga secures 2-1 comeback victory at Alverca

Alverca takes early lead through Chiquinho penalty

Sporting Clube de Braga earned a 2-1 away victory against FC Alverca on Saturday in matchday 5 of the Primeira Liga. Alverca manager Sérgio Ferreira instituted three squad changes following a 1-1 draw with Santa Clara, handing Toni Tamarit his first start in place of the injured Touaizi, while Sergi Gómez entered defense for Chissumba, who was ineligible against his parent club. Chiquinho also returned to the lineup after completing a two-match suspension, replacing André Vidigal. Braga head coach Carlos Vicens introduced Adrian Bajrami for Sergio Barcia and Diego Rodrigues for the injured Gabriel Silva, joining a lineup that included captain João Moutinho, Vitor Carvalho, and Gustaf Lagerbielke. The visiting side dominated possession in the early phases, with Mario Dorgeles sending a 7th-minute drive inches wide and Pau Víctor testing goalkeeper Matheus Mendes from an offside position at a 15th-minute corner. Alverca struck first in the 27th minute on their first clear opportunity. Figueiredo released Chiquinho down the right flank in the 24th minute, where Diego Rodrigues tripped the winger inside the penalty area. Referee Luís Godinho awarded the penalty after a VAR review, and Chiquinho scored into the corner past Bernardo Fontes.

Tactical adjustments reshape the second half

Alverca maintained their compact defensive block until the break, frustrating Braga's positional play despite an angled stoppage-time effort from Diogo Travassos that drifted wide. Facing a 1-0 deficit, Carlos Vicens initiated three substitutions simultaneously at half-time by introducing Gabri Martínez, Sergio Barcia, and Fran Navarro. The managerial changes shifted Pau Víctor from the wing into a central attacking role and allowed midfielder Demir Tiknaz to take command of ball progression. Tiknaz repeatedly found space through Alverca's midfield lines to accelerate attacks.

Pau Víctor brace overturns the deficit

Braga drew level in the 50th minute through individual skill from Tiknaz on the right wing. The Turkish midfielder outmanoeuvred multiple defenders inside the penalty area before squaring a low delivery to the penalty spot, where Pau Víctor converted into the bottom corner. The forward completed the comeback seven minutes later in the 57th minute. Matheus Mendes parried an initial strike from substitute Fran Navarro, and a follow-up effort from Tiknaz ricocheted off the goalpost into the path of Pau Víctor, who slotted the rebound into the net for his second goal of the campaign.

League standings and season records

The 2-1 result provides Braga with their second consecutive victory in the Portuguese championship following their previous 1-0 derby win over Vitória de Guimarães. Carlos Vicens' side advances provisionally to seventh place in the Primeira Liga with seven points from three matches played, matching the points totals of Gil Vicente and Marítimo while holding two games in hand. Alverca remains winless through five rounds of the season. The Ribatejo club occupies 16th place with two points, having recorded two draws and three defeats in the campaign.