By Anna Italia
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Italian Soccer Serie A supports Serie A teams in the UEFA Champions League
53% Ball Possession SC BRAGA and 47% Ball Possession NAPOLI
SC Braga 1 – 2 Napoli 
84′ Bruma 45+1′ Giovanni Di Lorenzo
. 88′ Sikou Niakate (own goal)
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Napoli won the UEFA Champions League Group Stage – Group D game against SC Braga on Wednesday 20 September 2023 at the Estadio Municipal de Braga in Braga, Portugal. Napoli therefore got full 3 points, while Braga remained at 0.
Napoli played better in the first half and produced numerous scoring opportunities, finding the lead only in injury time thanks to a goal from Captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo who, served by a header from Victor Osimhen, sent the left-footed ball under the crossbar. In the second half, the match did not lose intensity but the opportunities dropped drastically, with the Neapolitans resting too much and in the 84th minute they were punished by Braga: Østigård ventured into his own trocar with the ball at his feet but lost the balls under the pressure of the Portuguese team, therefore Zalazar crossed to the center for Bruma who headed the score level. A few minutes later, however, the big moment for Napoli grabbing the victory thanks to an own goal by Niakaté.
Napoli raised their heads and found the right gear after the defeat against Lazio and the draw with Genoa in the championship. Last year, the men then coached by Luciano Spalletti had also had an excellent run in the Champions League, reaching the quarter-finals, then losing against AC Milan led by a wild Leao.
In the next Champions League match on Tuesday 3 October, Napoli will face Real Madrid at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, while Braga will be guests at Union Berlin.
Napoli opened the score in the 45+1 minute just before ending the first half. It is Captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo to defeat SC Braga goalkeeper Matheus with a left-footed shot to the top right corner following a corner conceded by Cristián Borja.
👉 SC Braga 0 – 1 Napoli, 45+1′ minute, ⚽️ goal by Giovanni Di Lorenzo for @en_sscnapoli with a left-footed shot to the top right corner following a corner conceded by Cristián Borja. https://t.co/quEBwr2Wzh
— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) September 20, 2023
Giovanni Di Lorenzo on the volley!
The Napoli captain strikes just before halftime. 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/H8ig69SV6A
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 20, 2023
SC Braga equalized in the 84th minute. Bruma defeated Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret with a headed shot to the top left corner. The assist is by Rodrigo Zalazar.
👉 SC Braga 1 – 1 Napoli, 84th minute, ⚽️ goal by Bruma equalized for @SCBragaOficial with a headed shot to the top left corner. The assist is by Rodrigo Zalazar. https://t.co/rndZ13EeGH pic.twitter.com/YDYeGXHiyF
— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) September 20, 2023
Bruma bags a late goal for Braga!
A deft header to equalize at home. 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/sOdx4Fh7PP
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 20, 2023
The winner moment arrived in the 88th minute with the own goal by Sikou Niakaté giving the victory to Napoli. It’s party time for Napoli fans!!!
👉 SC Braga 1 – 2 Napoli, 88th minute, ⚽️ own goal by Sikou Niakaté @SCBragaOficial gave the lead to @en_sscnapoli !!!!!
Partyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy https://t.co/4y9wJGOlkm
— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) September 20, 2023
Look away, Braga fans! 🙈
Just minutes after equalizing, the hosts concede an own goal. 😬 pic.twitter.com/SGtPWzZZiM
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 20, 2023
✅ Stats before the game: This is the first competitive match between Braga and Napoli. The Portuguese side have lost their last four matches against Italian opposition in all competitions, most recently twice against Fiorentina in last season’s Conference League. Napoli have won their last two matches against Portuguese opposition, beating Benfica both home and away in the 2016/17 Champions League group stage. They have never won three consecutive matches against Portuguese teams in the past. Braga will be competing in the Champions League for the third time, having exited in the group stages in both 2010/11 and 2012/13. None of Braga’s 12 Champions League matches have ended in draws (W4, L8), the most matches played by a team without a draw in the competition. This will be Napoli’s eighth participation in the Champions League. Last season he reached the quarter-finals, his best performance in the competition.
🏆👉 Lineup Sporting Braga (4-3-3) – Matheus; Victor Gomez, José Fonte, Niakaté, Borja; Carvalho, Horta, Al Musrati; Djalo, Abel Ruiz, Bruma.
🏆👉 Lineup Napoli (4-3-3) – Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia.
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📺 Click the video to watch SC Braga 1 – 2 Napoli highlights on Wednesday 20 September 2023
🏆👉 ⚽️ 🏟 💙
Photo via twitter.com/en_sscnapoli
Photo via twitter.com/SCBragaOficial
Photo via twitter.com/en_sscnapoli
Photo via twitter.com/en_sscnapoli
👉 First half is over. SC Braga 0 – 1 Napoli
⚽️ Goals: 45+1′ Giovanni Di Lorenzo
🟨 Booked: 19′ Zambo Anguissa (N), 41′ Victor Osimhen (N), 44′ Álvaro Djaló (B)
✍ Ball Possession: 51% @SCBragaOficial and 49% @en_sscnapoli
✅ https://t.co/iZq9KiMUGA @ForzaNapoliPod https://t.co/cBSfnRPh0L
— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) September 20, 2023
👉 Result SC Braga 1 – 2 Napoli
⚽️ Goals: 45+1′ Giovanni Di Lorenzo, 84′ Bruma (B), 88′ Sikou Niakate (og)
🟨 Booked: Braga 3, Napoli 6
✍ Ball Possession: 53% @SCBragaOficial and 47% @en_sscnapoli
✅ https://t.co/iZq9KiMUGA @Domii_Torello @ForzaNapoliPod @SerieASitdown https://t.co/IISx0qnrrg
— Anna Italia (@ItalianSerieA) September 20, 2023
Photo via twitter.com/en_sscnapoli
2023 – 2024 UEFA Champions League
Group Stage – Group C
SC Braga 0 – 1 Napoli
Wednesday 20 September 2023
Estadio Municipal de Braga
Braga, Portugal
21:00
Referee: Serdar Gözübüyük (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Erwin Zeinstra (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Johan Balder (NED)
Fourth Official: Marc Nagtegaal (NED)
VAR: Dennis Higler (NED)
AVAR: Rob Dieperink (NED)
Referee Observer: Rune Pedersen (NOR)
Goals: 45+1′ Giovanni Di Lorenzo (N)
🟨 Booked: 19′ André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (N), 41′ Victor Osimhen (N), 44′ Álvaro Djaló (B), 55′ José Fonte (B), 56′ Matteo Politano (N), Cristián Borja (B), 79′ Giacomo Raspadori (N), 86′ Mathías Olivera (N), 93′ Juan Jesus (N)
Official lineups – formations – tabellino:
🏆👉 Lineup Sporting Braga (4-3-3) – Matheus; Gomez, José Fonte, Niakaté, Borja (85′ Marin), Vitor Carvalho (67′ Zalazar), Al-Musrati, R. Horta, Djalo (77′ Banza), Bruma, Abel Ruiz (86′ Pizzi).
Subs: Lukas Hornicek, Serdar, André Horta, Paulo Oliveira, Joe Mendes, Rony Lopes, João Moutinho
Coach: Artur Jorge.
🏆👉 Lineup Napoli (4-3-3) – Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani (13′ Ostigard), Juan Jesus, Olivera, Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski (90′ Natan), Politano (66′ Raspadori), Kvaratskhelia (66′ Elmas), Osimhen (90′ Simeone).
Coach: Rudi Garcia.
