The second leg of the Europa League third qualifying round is expected to be the first turning point of the season for Servette. The arrival of Sporting Braga on Thursday (which will be followed at 8:30 pm on RTS 2) poses a big challenge for the Garnets.
A week after a 0-0 draw in Portugal thanks to a superb performance, but four days after the disaster at home to Basel (0-6), Servette are at a crossroads. If they win on Thursday, they will be guaranteed a place in the group stage of a European competition again. If they fail, they will face an almost impossible task against Chelsea to secure their place in the Conference League.
“However, it is not normal to play the group stage for a team that is not the Swiss champion.Jeremy Fricke rightly notes. Braga remain the favourites in this double header, but I know we have a team capable of rising to the level of the competition.“Last year, the Garnets looked Rangers and Roma head-to-head.
“We will give everything to make it pass.”
In Braga, Servette was able to respond to give Jeremy Frick a fifth consecutive shutout on the European stage. “It gives me confidence, and it gives strength to the whole team,” he added., The doorman smiled. I can assure you that we will give everything to pass it. Basel 6-0 is not a topic. We did not have time to talk about it, there is no need for that either. The team immediately turned to this second leg against Braga.“
The return leg could be approached by Servette without three of their best players. Indeed, Miroslav Stefanovic is suffering from an ankle injury while Alexis Antunes and Derek Kutesa are suffering from illness.Stevanovic is an exceptional player. He is difficult to replace.“, sighs Thomas Haberle. The coach hopes that his players will develop as strongly as in Portugal against an opponent who since Monday has had a new mentor in the person of Carlos Carvalhal. who replaced daniel souza.
“With this change, I think Braga will have more teeth than they did in the first leg.“Jeremy Frick slips. But so does the Garnets, who must be forgiven for the disaster they suffered on Sunday against FC Basel, a 6-0 scoreline that no one expected.
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