Late Celta equaliser denies Braga win in 2-2 pre-season draw, squad presented
SC Braga ended their pre-season unbeaten with a 2-2 draw against Celta Vigo at the Estádio Municipal, after Carlos Domínguez's 92nd-minute header cancelled out Jónatas Noro's second-half goal. The match also served as the squad presentation for the 2026/27 season, with seven new signings unveiled.
Match recap
SC Braga hosted Celta Vigo at the Estádio Municipal de Braga on Saturday evening in their final pre-season friendly, which also doubled as the squad presentation for the 2026/27 campaign. The match ended 2-2 after a late equaliser from the Spanish side. Braga had taken a 2-1 lead through second-half goals from Vítor Carvalho and Jónatas Noro, both from set-pieces, but Carlos Domínguez headed in a corner in stoppage time to deny the hosts a victory.
The first half saw Celta open the scoring in the 32nd minute. After a Braga turnover in their own half, Williot Swedberg initiated a move that found Hugo González, who struck a powerful shot past goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek, the ball hitting the left post before going in. Braga responded just before the interval: Víctor Gómez's corner from the right found Vítor Carvalho at the far post, and he headed home in the 45+3 minute to level the match.
After the break, Braga manager Carlos Vicens made wholesale changes, keeping only two starters from the first half. The team again scored from a corner in the 66th minute. Diego Rodrigues swung the ball into the area, and 21-year-old defender Jónatas Noro rose highest to head in and make it 2-1. Celta, however, never stopped searching for an equaliser. They forced substitute goalkeeper Tiago Sá into two good saves before finally breaking through in the 92nd minute. Another corner, this time from the visitors, found Carlos Domínguez unmarked in the box, and he headed firmly into the net, silencing the crowd of over 11,000 at the Pedreira.
- Hugo González opens scoring for Celta Vigo
- Vítor Carvalho equalises for Braga from a corner
- Jónatas Noro heads Braga into the lead
- Carlos Domínguez equalises for Celta Vigo
Squad presentation
Before kick-off, Braga presented a provisional squad of 31 players for the upcoming season, including seven new signings. The arrivals are Gabriel Silva (ex-Santa Clara), Diogo Travassos (ex-Sporting), Jonas Wind (ex-Wolfsburg), Denis Huseinbasic (ex-Köln), Sergio Barcia (ex-Las Palmas), Bernardo Fontes (ex-Tondela), and Adrian Bajrami (ex-Luzern). The club also retained key players such as Czech international goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek and Swedish defender Gustaf Lagerbielke, both World Cup participants. Notable departures include Rodrigo Zalazar to Sporting, André Horta to Almería, and Djibril Soumaré to Stoke City. Forward Amine El Ouazzani was absent from the presentation, with a loan move to French side Angers reportedly imminent.
Pre-season form
The draw leaves Braga unbeaten in pre-season, with four wins and one draw. The team showed resilience in set-piece situations, scoring both goals from corners, but struggled to create chances from open play. Manager Carlos Vicens used the match to rotate heavily, giving minutes to many squad members ahead of the competitive fixtures.
What's next
Braga's first official match is on Wednesday, 22 July, away to Serbian side Zeleznicar Pancevo in the first leg of the Conference League second qualifying round. The squad is expected to undergo further adjustments before the transfer window closes.
