SC Braga to face Austria Wien in Conference League playoff after eliminating Dinamo Minsk

Braga through to Conference League playoff

SC Braga secured their place in the Conference League playoff on Thursday, 13 August, drawing 0-0 away to Dinamo Minsk in the second leg of the third qualifying round. The Portuguese side carried a 1-0 lead from the first leg, earned a week earlier at the Municipal Stadium in Braga through a Ricardo Horta penalty, giving them a 1-0 aggregate victory. Dinamo Minsk played their home fixture at the Beroe Stadium in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, as Belarus serves a suspension from hosting European competition following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The match in Bulgaria produced few clear chances. Pau Victor, who retained his starting place, missed Braga's first opportunity in the 6th minute, beating Abdulahii with a backheel touch but failing to finish. Near halftime, Victor Gomez delivered a cross from a rehearsed free kick that deflected, and goalkeeper Shimakovich parried. The first half was a poor game with little history, both sides cancelling each other out while Braga managed their first-leg advantage comfortably.

Ricardo Horta struck the post in the 48th minute after an assist from Pau Victor inside the Belarusian area. In the 56th minute, Romanian referee Szabolcs Kovacs awarded Braga a penalty for an alleged handball by Roman Begunov, but the decision was reversed after VAR review showed the Dinamo Minsk defender had headed the ball. Dinamo Minsk's best period came between the 60th and 70th minutes: in the 63rd minute, Leonard Gweth exploited a Vitor Carvalho error but Bernardo Fontes denied him, and three minutes later Vladislav Kalinin shot from inside the area and was also stopped. Braga finished with 13 shots on goal and the majority of possession, while Fontes was called into action only twice.

Austria Wien prevail on penalties

Austria Wien emerged as Braga's playoff opponent after eliminating Israel's Beitar Jerusalem in a two-legged tie that went to penalties. The Austrian side won the first leg 2-1 away in Romania, Beitar's borrowed home venue, but lost the second leg 1-2 at home in Vienna, leaving the aggregate level at 3-3. Beitar's goals in the return leg came from Omer Atzili in the 32nd minute and Johnbosco Samuel Kalu in the 56th minute, before Kelvin Boateng pulled one back for Austria Wien in the 58th minute. Thirty minutes of extra time could not separate the sides, and Austria Wien won the shootout 4-2, with Sanel Saljic converting the decisive penalty after Beitar missed two of their attempts.

Austria Wien finished fourth in the Austrian league last season and are led by coach Stephan Helm, who is beginning his third campaign in charge.

Playoff and domestic schedule

The two-legged playoff is scheduled for 20 and 27 August, with the first leg in Braga. The winner advances to the league phase of the Conference League, UEFA's third-tier club competition.

Before the playoff, Braga return to domestic action on 16 August, hosting Gil Vicente in the Primeira Liga at 20:30. Carlos Vicens's side opened their league campaign with a 2-2 draw against Moreirense.