Sp. Braga once again proved too strong for Lincoln, delivering a convincing 5-1 defeat in the second leg of their Europa League playoff. This result confirmed Lincoln’s exit from the competition. Yet, for Juan Bezares, the coach of the Gibraltar club, the overall experience was not a complete loss. He believes his team gained something valuable despite the lopsided score.
Bezares called the game a “prize” for his squad. He admitted it felt “bittersweet” because facing a much stronger team makes things very hard. But he saw a hidden victory in the final minutes. Lincoln managed to score a goal, and for Bezares, that single moment helped ease some of the pain. It showed his players they can improve and compete, even at this high level. He said the team is proud of how far they’ve come. They leave the pitch as “better people, better players, and a better team,” even after such a tough result. Playing against a club like Sp. Braga, he believes, gives them a boost of confidence for their upcoming Europa Conference League matches.
Looking ahead, Bezares mentioned their previous run in the Europa Conference League back in 2021. During that time, they did not manage to score any points. This year, the main goal is to change that. They want to put points on the board. Each season, Lincoln aims to compete harder and perform better. Playing six games in the Europa Conference League will be a huge help for their growth. The coach described the entire playoff experience as a “great opportunity” for learning. He also shared his thanks to Sp. Braga for their kindness and good treatment, as well as to everyone else involved in the tie.