Sporting Braga vs Sion - Paulo Fonseca plays down favourites tag

Posted Wednesday, February 24, 2016 by PA

SC Braga coach Paulo Fonseca is keen to play down the favourites tag for his side as they prepare to welcome FC Sion in the Europa League on Wednesday.

Braga won 2-1 in Switzerland in the first leg, which at the time extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches in all competitions.

Progress into the round of 32, therefore, looks tougher for Sion, whose goal at home had come from Moussa Konate.

However, Fonseca is wary of a Sion side that had shown plenty of attacking intent in the first leg, and is expecting nothing less at the Estadio Municipal de Braga.

Fonseca said on www.scbraga.pt: "We have the clear intention to pass the round.

"After the result achieved in Switzerland we want to confirm (our progress) into the next phase. Although some people give us favouritism, I think otherwise.

"Sion is not an easy team. It is true that we are confident and we can move this round, but we are sceptical of the value of Sion.

"We must, therefore, be prepared for a very tough game. They will be pressing a lot because they have nothing to lose."

Sion's problems are made worse by the exclusion of defender Reto Ziegler due to an Achilles injury, and coach Didier Tholot is taking a realistic view of things.

In quotes reported by O Jogo, he said: "We will have a 30 per cent chance of passing, but we will give 100 per cent to make it happen.

"We will not leave here with regrets. There are 90 minutes to play and we will play them.

"Braga are very strong and fit, but (it has) happened that teams have been overcome like that. We'll do everything to win the game tomorrow."