Europa League 
/ Richard Aikman / 13 April 2011 / Leave a Comment Braga have a formidable home record in Europe this season
"They have won their last five league matches on the spin to hold on to third place in the Portuguese Liga, while Dinamo could only scramble a 1-1 draw at rock-bottom Metalurh Zaporyzha."
Not many would have given Braga a chance of making it this far but they're in the driving seat in this quarter-final tie and may make it through quite comfortably, says Richard Aikman.
Although the visitors were fortunate to cling on to Dinamo's coat-tails in the first leg, expect a very different story when Yuri Semin's men travel to fortress Braga.
Braga were lucky to cling on in Kiev and, after going behind to Andriy Yarmolenko's early opener, were grateful to both Oleh Gusev for scoring an own goal and Andriy Shevchenko for getting himself sent off, as they came away with a 1-1 draw.
Yet despite events in Kiev, it is Braga who are favourites to win the match at [2.48], while the Ukrainian outfit side are a long [3.25] to clinch an away win. Dinamo's failure to beat ten-man Manchester City at Eastlands in the last round will have prompted punters to side with Braga, even though it should be remembered that the Ukrainian outfit's two previous away games produced 4-1 routs at Besiktas and BATE Borisov.
That said, Braga are far more resilient opponents than either of the above and their home record merits respect. The Arsenalistas have won six of their seven European matches at the Estadio Municipal this season, winning 3-0 against Celtic and 2-0 against Arsenal and Partizan Belgrade (Champions League). They also beat Lech Poznan in this competition, before knocking out Liverpool thanks to Alan's solitary goal in Portugal.
They have won their last five league matches on the spin to hold on to third place in the Portuguese Liga, while Dinamo could only scramble a 1-1 draw at rock-bottom Metalurh Zaporyzha.
Semin has already said that he intends his side - who will be without the suspended Shevchenko - to attack Braga from the start, which may play into the hosts' hands, so adept are they at hitting sides on the counter-attack. Having won their last four home matches in Europe to nil - against decent sides - Braga's defence should see them through again.
Recommended bet: Back under 2.5 goals @ [1.72]; Back Braga to win to nil @ [4.2]
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