Liga Sagres: Nacional 1 Braga 1

Sporting Braga and Nacional have played out a 1-1 draw at the Estadio da Madeira in Monday’s Portuguese Liga action.

With Nacional looking for a win to boost their hopes of claiming a Europa League berth, it was Braga who took the lead away from home thanks to a 77th-minute strike from midfielder Helder Barbosa.

But Brazilian midfielder Luis Alberto secured a share of the spoils for Nacional in the last minute of regular time, and the point moved Nacional to 36, just one behind fifth-placed Vitoria Guimaraes who occupy the last Europa League spot.

Braga – already through to the semi-finals of this season’s Europa League – have all but assured their place in the tournament for next season and are sitting in third place on 44 points with three games remaining.

Tue 19 April, 2011

Liga Sagres: Nacional 1 Braga 1

Sporting Braga and Nacional have played out a 1-1 draw at the Estadio da Madeira in Monday’s Portuguese Liga action.

With Nacional looking for a win to boost their hopes of claiming a Europa League berth, it was Braga who took the lead away from home thanks to a 77th-minute strike from midfielder Helder Barbosa.

But Brazilian midfielder Luis Alberto secured a share of the spoils for Nacional in the last minute of regular time, and the point moved Nacional to 36, just one behind fifth-placed Vitoria Guimaraes who occupy the last Europa League spot.

Braga – already through to the semi-finals of this season’s Europa League – have all but assured their place in the tournament for next season and are sitting in third place on 44 points with three games remaining.

Tue 19 April, 2011

Liga Sagres: Nacional 1 Pacos de Ferreira 0

Nacional moved into sixth spot on the Liga Sagres table after breaking a four-game winless run with a 1-0 win over Pacos de Ferreira.

An 84th-minute strike by substitute Edgar Costa was all that separated the two closely-matched sides on Monday at the Estadio de Madeira.

The 23-year-old attacker entered the fray at half-time and struck the decisive blow when Pacos goalkeeper Cassio came for a long ball and failed to collect, allowing the striker to place a cheeky chip over him and into the empty net.

Nacional midfielder Bruno Amaro was sent off in stoppage time after a clumsy foul cost him a second yellow card.

It was the first time Pedrag Jokanovic’s side had won in any competition since February 27, but it kept the Madeira club’s hopes of securing a Europa League spot alive.

Pacos’ own attempts to secure continental football took a hit. They now lie seventh and a point from a Europa League place in fifth..

Tue 5 April, 2011