IT’S AN ALL-PORTUGUESE affair at the newly-rebranded ‘Dublin Arena’ tonight. Here’s everything you need to know to bluff it in the pub.
History
This subject is varied for this final exam. Domestic skirmishes between these two have been plentiful but this is their first meeting in Europe.
Porto, as befits their status as top dogs in Portugal swept aside Braga when the two sides met this season. A 3-2 home win in November was followed by a 2-0 away win in February.
But this is Europe, and on an historic night for Portuguese football Braga can take comfort from the fact that they have won the only all-Portuguese match in European football.
Amazingly their semi-final win over Benfica was the first such match. Both sides route to the final has been impressive for different reasons. Porto have been machine-like in marching to Dublin. Braga have in Bertie’s language, constantly upset the apple-tart in getting here.
The managers have intertwined fates. Andre Villas Boas, the uber-cool Porto gaffer once pestered Bobby Robson; the then Porto manager about why he wasn’t playing a flamboyant striker named Domingos. The two had a detailed discussion about him and Robson recommended courses young Andre might want to take in England. When asked about this last week Boas said “I don’t know how a player such as Domingos, who was a lovely dribbler, would fit into the modern game”
That man, Domingos Paciencia will be opposite him tonight in the Braga dugout.
Villas-Boas was also in the dugout as Jose Mourinho’s assistant when Porto clinched the UEFA cup in 2003. Don’t call him “Mini-mou” or “The Special Two” though. He doesn’t appreciate it.
Students are asked to remember that Porto won the Champions League just five years ago and they are unbeaten domestically this season. You are also asked to avoid any David and Goliath clichés.
Maths
In the case of a draw tonight we have the standard extra-time-penalties scenario. No away goals or golden goals here.
Students are reminded that the aggregate score between the two teams over their last five matches is 9-3 Porto and that was while Hulk was merely Bruce Banner.
Economics
The winners tonight will receive prize money the equivalent of three months of Wayne Rooney’s wages. Whoever lifts the trophy will receive a cheque for €3million.
Anyone who makes the group stage of the Champions League on the other hand receives €3.9m. Mind the gap.
Porto need to get as much dough as possible. Their astonishing success has come despite the fact they remain a selling club. Their extensive South American network tries to recruit the next star between the ages of 18-22 and then sell them to Europe’s richest.
Sustained runs in Europe can mean hanging on to the likes of Hulk and Falcao a season longer or being in a stronger bargaining position when the big boys come calling.
For Braga the €2m guaranteed from the final will be a massive fillip to a club that struggles to spend even in the thrifty Portuguese league.
Drama
This is to be expected. For better or worse Porto provided plenty of it in their last UEFA cup final against Celtic.
The tears that flowed from the Braga players and fans at the end of their semi-final win over Benfica showed what it meant for them to advance, and what they will do to win.
Students are asked to keep an eye on Braga’s Alan tonight. A Porto cast-off with the winner? Martin Tyler once yelled “You couldn’t write this script”. Together we can kids.
Philosophy
Porto are modern, strong but attacking. As demonstrated throughout this competition they don’t wait for a game, they seize it. One striker Hulk is the leading scorer domestically with 23 goals while his partner Falcao has set a new UEFA cup/Europa league record this season with 17 goals.
Braga will try to stay compact and use set-pieces efficiently. Newcastle United fans might recall the name Hugo Viana who once had a disastrous spell at St James Park. Viana was responsible for both free-kicks that led to the two goals that ultimately brought Braga to the final.
As Rio Ferdinand would say, stay on your feet.
Probable teams:
Porto: Helton; Sapunaru, Rolando, Maicon, Alvaro Pereira; Guarin, Fernando, Moutinho; Hulk, Falcao, Varela
Braga: Artur; Garcia, Rodriguez, Paulao, Silvio; Alan, Vandinho, Custodio, Viana; Lima, Meyong
Further reading:
Dominic Fifield of the Guardian on Andre-Villas-Boas.
The same paper on Braga.
The Irish Times with ticket news. It’s not too late.
Liam Mackey on preparations.
This is a couple of weeks old, but well worth a read as tactics guru Jonathan Wilson explains Porto.
TheScore introduces Porto and Braga and tells you how to get to Ballsbridge this evening.
Timetable
Kick-off is 7:45. The Score will be live from the Aviva from seven – TV are the host broadcasters.
