SC Braga draws 0-0 at Aarhus despite 30 shots in Conference League

Result and table position

SC Braga drew 0-0 with AGF Aarhus on Thursday, 5 November, in the third matchday of the Conference League league phase. PÚBLICO counted 30 shots for Braga and almost three expected goals, yet neither side found the net. The point takes Braga to four, following a 2-0 win over Gent and a 3-0 defeat at FC Copenhagen in the opening round. Standings are reported inconsistently: PÚBLICO and SAPO place Braga 16th, SIC Notícias 15th and Notícias ao Minuto 17th, each as a provisional position. Aarhus, coached by Jakob Poulsen according to SAPO, are 25th with two points, and SAPO notes they were knocked out of the Europa League by Benfica in the pre-qualifiers.

SC Braga4

AGF Aarhus2

SC Braga

4 points

AGF Aarhus

2 points

Data from the article text

Tactical battle

Braga set up in a 4-2-3-1 with Ricardo Horta as the No 10, but without the ball the shape became a 4-4-2 with easily spotted individual marking, according to PÚBLICO. Aarhus used a symmetrical system that let Horta and Pau Víctor pick up the two centre-backs. PÚBLICO argues that Mario Dorgeles was asked to drop into a hybrid role, which left him constantly late to react. Aarhus exploited this by pulling the winger inside, forcing Victor Gómez out of position and leaving the right flank overloaded. The hosts kept delivering crosses with little resistance, and goalkeeper Bernardo Fontes made several saves to keep the score level.

First half and second half

SAPO's live report says Rasmus Carstensen headed dangerously in the 10th minute before Fontes stopped the effort. In the 25th minute Gabri Martínez shot narrowly wide after a pass from Horta. Gift Links was the most prominent Aarhus player on the left, but Braga adjusted its pressing triggers and took control, with Horta, Diogo Travassos and Gabri Martínez combining down the left side. The first half still ended without a goal. After the restart Braga kept a mobile front line, but Pau Víctor and Gabri Martínez, followed by Wind and Navarro, were wasteful in front of goal, according to SAPO. Gorby Baptiste forced a long-range effort in the 60th minute, and neither team broke the deadlock.

What comes next

PÚBLICO judged that Braga is likely to fall further in the standings as the rest of the European campaign unfolds. Notícias ao Minuto reports that Aarhus have yet to win in the competition, and both clubs remain in the league phase with the table still open.