Sporting Clube de Braga head coach Carlos Vicens has demanded a significant improvement from his team ahead of their match against Austria Vienna on Wednesday.
The Portuguese club host Austria Vienna at the Estádio Municipal de Braga in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League play-off tie. Vicens declared that he wants his side to deliver a much better performance than in their previous European outing, a goalless draw against Belarusian club Dynamo Minsk in Bulgaria.
Pre-match preparations were disrupted by a severe gastrointestinal infection outbreak that spread through the Braga squad and technical staff. The stomach illness, which involved symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea among players, forced the postponement of Braga's scheduled league match against Gil Vicente last Sunday.
Providing a health update on the squad, Vicens explained that the club remained in direct contact with medical staff as the timing of symptoms varied across the squad. He noted that while some individuals suffered initial symptoms while in Bulgaria, others fell ill progressively, with additional cases recorded among players and staff on Monday.
The head coach confirmed that no new cases were reported on Tuesday, which brought reassurance to the team. However, Vicens acknowledged that players appeared weaker and had less energy during training sessions on Monday and Tuesday, adding that staff will assess the squad ahead of the upcoming match.
Squad recovery and Conference League play-off
Braga, nicknamed Os Arsenalistas, are seeking to reach the league stage of the UEFA Conference League, Europe's third-tier club tournament. The match takes place at their home stadium, the Estádio Municipal de Braga, known locally as A Pedreira because it was built into a former quarry.
Following the postponement of their domestic match, Braga turn their full attention to the European play-off tie against Austrian side Austria Vienna. Coach Vicens will monitor player fitness right up to matchday to determine who can start following the virus outbreak.
