This article contains adult content that may be inappropriate for minors. Please confirm that you are 18 years or older to continue. This article contains images or details that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. The draw in Nyon was generous (Stuttgart was always avoided), but SC Braga is warned: the path to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League goes through the hell of Budapest, where the resilient Hungarian champion Ferencvaros resides, having finished the league phase just one point shy of the top 8 and only two points behind SC Braga's 17. Up to the round of 16, the green eagles of Hungary, led by Irish legend Robbie Keane (former player of Inter, Leeds, Liverpool, Celtic, West Ham, and Tottenham), defeated Rangers (2-1) and Ludogorets (3-1) at home, and Genk (1-0) and Salzburg (3-2) away, in addition to drawing with Viktoria Plzen, Fenerbahçe, and Panathinaikos (all 1-1). They only lost one match, in England, against Nottingham Forest, in the last round. Then, in the playoff, the Hungarians eliminated Ludogorets: a 1-2 defeat in Bulgaria was compensated with a 2-0 victory at home. Operating with a conservative 5-4-1 formation that becomes explosive in attack, the Hungarians make the Groupama Aréna a suffocating fortress, where the pressure from the fans and the scoring prowess of Barnabás Varga (20 goals this season) are their main weapons. The history against Portuguese clubs is short and too old to draw conclusions. Ferencvaros has faced Portuguese teams only once, specifically FC Porto in the 1994/95 Cup Winners' Cup. In the first leg, the Dragons won 6-0, but in the second leg, they lost 0-2 in Budapest. For SC Braga, the key to success lies in the Pedreira. Deciding the tie at home is a golden advantage, but the Minho technical staff knows that there can be no complacency against a historic team that has risen for great continental nights. The dream of reaching the final in Istanbul remains very much alive, but first, it will be necessary to tame the fury of the green eagles.
Did the SC Braga remains central to this story.
Did the SC Braga remains central to this story.
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