The quiet work of pre-season continues, but the signs are clear. Sp. Braga added another win to their tally, beating Moreirense 2-0 in a closed-door practice match. This victory marks their fourth success in as many warm-up games, a perfect run so far. They’ve steadily built momentum, having already topped P. Ferreira 1-0, Wolfsberger 2-0, and Panathinaikos 2-1.
This latest success saw Ricardo Horta find the net in the 37th minute, showing his knack for important strikes. Later, Gharbi sealed the deal with a goal in the 72nd minute. These friendlies are often about testing ideas and players, and Braga’s coach, Carlos Vicens, used the opportunity to look at many options.
Vicens started a strong lineup for Braga. Hornicek guarded the goal, with Lagerbielke, Vítor Carvalho, and Arrey-Mbi in defense. Yanis da Rocha, João Moutinho, and Gorby controlled the midfield. Ricardo Horta, Dorgeles, Zalazar, and El Ouazzani led the attack. As the game went on, a fresh wave of players came onto the field. Chissumba, Paulo Oliveira, Nuno Matos, Sandro Vidigal, Diego Rodrigues, Fran Navarro, Gharbi, Tiago Sá, João Marques, and Leonardo Lelo all saw minutes, showing the depth of the squad.
Not every player was available for this run-out. Bambu, Gabri Martínez, and Víctor Gómez sat out, focusing on their recovery from injuries. Other key players, like Djibril Soumaré, Afonso Patrão, Roger, and Niakaté, were on a specific training plan and also missed the match. Their careful management shows a long-term view for the upcoming season.
Moreirense, on the other hand, kept their team choices private. Coach Vasco Botelho da Costa did not share details of his starting eleven or substitutes. The game took place at Estádio Amélia Morais in Braga, away from the public eye, a common practice for these pre-season tune-ups.