Horta Demands Non-Stop Braga as Red Star Win Fuels Portugal’s European Push
Ricardo Horta’s words still echoed through the Cidade Desportiva when the scoreboard at Braga’s municipal stadium settled on 2-0 against Estrela Vermelha. The captain had spent the buildup urging his team to become a side “that never flickers.” Three straight wins and nine points later, the men from Minho are living up to that demand—yet nobody inside the camp is treating the mission as complete.
A captain’s challenge: chasing consistency
The 31-year-old forward felt compelled to speak after noticing swings in Braga’s performances between the Primeira Liga and the Europa League. By his own admission, the squad shows bursts of high-octane pressing followed by spells of “cruise control,” an approach he believes could cost them when the knockout rounds arrive. Ricardo Horta pointed to top-drawer displays in Rotterdam and Glasgow as proof that Sporting de Braga possess the resources; what they lack, he argued, is uninterrupted constancy, regardless of the opponent or the venue. That mantra has been embraced by new head coach Carlos Vicens, who inherited a side that had already mastered possession football under Artur Jorge but still seeks an extra layer of edge. The Catalan’s response has been straightforward: double sessions focused on competitive intensity, a return to a four-man back line and clear roles for the wide forwards.
Lessons from a flawless European start
Three group fixtures, nine points and a 100 % record have placed the Arsenalistas on the cusp of early qualification. A hard-fought 1-0 over Feyenoord at home, a commanding 2-0 in the cauldron of Celtic Park, and the recent triumph against Estrela Vermelha serve as a practical demonstration of Horta’s thesis: when Braga keep the foot on the accelerator, they find ways to win. The side has conceded zero goals so far in continental play, illustrating how a compact shape and aggressive counter-pressing can neutralise even the most flamboyant attacks. Midfielder João Moutinho calls it “the European gear,” a mentality switch that the veterans are now trying to replicate on weekend trips to stadiums like Jamor or São Miguel. If the momentum carries over, qualification could be sealed with two matches to spare, a scenario that would allow the club to rotate before Portuguese cup commitments ramp up.
Behind the lineup shuffle: injuries and ideas
Braga’s staff room resembles an infirmary report these days, with an injury list that still includes Paulo Oliveira, Sikou Niakaté and longer-term absentee Vítor Carvalho. That reality forced Carlos Vicens to make seven changes for the Estrela Vermelha clash. The most headline-grabbing switch was the return of Fran Navarro—fresh from a rapid rehabilitation—into the number 9 role, rewarded mere minutes later by the opening goal. Behind him, a revamped back four marshalled by on-loan Swede Gustaf Lagerbielke and a double-pivot featuring the tireless Gorby underlined the Spaniard’s belief in tactical flexibility without sacrificing balance. Club insiders say the coach spends ample time analysing “game states,” working on how the minhotos should behave when a match suddenly tilts in their favour—or against it. For Horta, that is the missing ingredient: transforming tactical theory into an unbroken competitive mindset that lasts from the first whistle to stoppage-time.
Red Star’s mixed signals
While Braga’s night ended in celebration, Red Star Belgrade must process a second successive European defeat despite their Superliga dominance. The Serbian champions have rattled in 41 goals and boast a spotless domestic record, yet continental opponents continue to exploit gaps in their transition defence. Portuguese analysts noted identical patterns in the Porto and Braga losses: flashy attacking phases undone by porous flanks and a lack of “second-ball hunger.” Striker Arnautovic and schemer Bruno Duarte remain €-calibre talents, but they often press alone, leaving space that teams with quick wingers—Gabri Martínez was electric on Thursday—have learned to target. Unless manager Barak Bakhar plugs those holes, Red Star’s European adventure risks ending in the group stage, an outcome that would raise questions back in Belgrade about the club’s ceiling beyond the Balkans.
Horta’s numbers in continental nights
Through 230 minutes of Europa-League football this term, the captain has produced one goal and two assists, both decisive. The sample is small, but it already mirrors his entire creative output in last season’s Champion-League campaign. Looking back further, his 2021/22 peak—three goals and two assists—remains the benchmark, yet club statisticians believe he is ahead of that curve on a per-90-minute basis. The data also highlight how his pressing work rate has ticked upward under Vicens, suggesting the forward is embracing the dual role of playmaker and first line of defence. With Braga poised for a deeper run, personal milestones such as 500 career appearances and a possible entry into the club’s all-time top-three scorers list are within reach, adding an extra layer to his evolving continental pedigree.
What it means for Portuguese football
Every Europa-League point benefits the nation’s UEFA coefficient, a ranking that dictates the number of continental slots available to Liga Portugal. Braga’s surge, combined with Porto’s concurrent success, strengthens the argument that Portugal deserves a consistent third Champions-League seat. Financially, each victory represents roughly €630,000 in prize money, funds that the Braga board often channels into youth development at their acclaimed academy in Fão. Locally, a strong European season reinforces Minho’s identity as a region that punches above its weight in sport, culture and innovation. Nationally, it keeps the spotlight on a league still battling for TV revenues and global reach. For fans, Thursday nights have become a ritual again; packed terraces, roaring anthems and a belief that Portuguese clubs can stand tall in any stadium on the continent.