Braga vs Panathinaikos betting tips: Champions League play-off round first leg preview, predictions and odds

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Braga vs Panathinaikos match preview

It’s a very long time since either of these two clubs competed in the Champions League group stages, making this an enormous opportunity for both.

Braga’s one and only group phase appearance in this competition came way back in 2010, featuring in the Europa League equivalent on nine occasions subsequently, including in each of the last four seasons.

Having finished third in last season’s Primeira Liga, os Arcebispos get a shot at these Champions League qualifiers and they certainly made the most of it in the third qualifying round.

Artur Jorge’s side smashed TSC Bačka Topola 7-1 on aggregate, prevailing 3-0 at home and then 4-1 in Serbia last mid-week, with Pizzi, Bruma and Álvaro Djaló all on target in both legs.

So now, can os Arsenalistas claim another emphatic home victory in this first leg, ahead of a trip to Athens in eight nights time?

Panathinaikos meantime got all the way to the European Cup Final of 1971, beaten by Ajax at Wembley, featuring in ten modern-day Champions League group stages, although the last of those was in 2010.

Back in Champions League qualifying for the first time eight year’s, Ivan Jovanović’s team swatted aside Dnipro-1 first up, but still went into their clash with Olympique de Marseille as massive underdogs.

Bernard was the only goal-scorer at Leoforos Alexandras Stadium but, when Marseille led 2-0 by half time at Stade Vélodrome a week later, the French club looked set to advance.

This was still the case until, in the tenth minute of injury time, Panathinaikos were awarded a spot-kick and Fotis Ioannidis held his nerve, thereby forcing extra time and then penalties.

Alberto Brignoli saved OM’s first penalty of the shoootu, while the visitors scored all five, with Filip Mladenović’s conversion completing the upset.

Once again, the Greek club come into this one as underdogs, so will the hosts be too strong at Estádio Municipal de Braga?

UEFA Champions League play-off round results & fixtures

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