Sporting Braga 1-0 Feyenoord Player Ratings: Leonardo Lelo 8/10 Rated as Braga Secured a Narrow 1-0 Victory Against Feyenoord

In a fiercely contested Europa League clash at the Estádio Municipal de Braga, it was the home side, Sporting Braga, who emerged victorious with a slender 1-0 win over Feyenoord. The match was a tense, tactical affair, with both sides struggling to break the deadlock for a large part of the game. It was a game of few clear-cut chances, defined more by grit and defensive solidity than by free-flowing attacking football.

From our perspective, the game felt like it was always going to be decided by a single moment of quality or a mistake. Chances were at a premium, with both goalkeepers having relatively quiet evenings for the most part. Feyenoord might feel particularly aggrieved, having come agonizingly close when substitute Cyle Larin saw his powerful header crash against the crossbar late in the game.

Ultimately, a solitary goal, assisted by the impressive Leonardo Lelo, was enough to separate the two teams. This result gives Sporting Braga a crucial three points in their European campaign, leaving Feyenoord to rue what could have been. Here are the Sporting Braga vs Feyenoord player ratings.

Sporting Braga Player Ratings vs Feyenoord

Here are the Sporting Braga player ratings vs Feyenoord.

Goalkeeper

Lukas Hornicek - 6.5: Had a fairly quiet night but was alert when called upon. Made one crucial save to deny Gijs Smal in the first half. His distribution was a bit hit-and-miss, but he did what was required of him to secure the clean sheet. A solid, if unspectacular, performance.

Defenders

Sikou Niakaté - 7.0: A rock at the back before his substitution. He was dominant in the air, winning most of his aerial duels, and read the game exceptionally well. We noticed his positioning was excellent, cutting out several developing attacks. Kept things simple and effective throughout his time on the pitch.

Gustaf Lagerbielke - 6.5: A bit of a mixed bag from the centre-back. He made a number of important clearances and was generally solid. However, an error almost led to a shot, which was a nervy moment for his team. His passing was decent, but he sometimes looked a little flustered under pressure.

Bright Arrey-Mbi - 6.5: A steady performance from the defender. He was positionally sound and made some key clearances to relieve pressure on his goal. Didn't offer much going forward but stuck to his defensive duties diligently. What stood out to us was his composure on the ball in tight spaces.

Midfielders

Víctor Gómez - 6.0: A frustrating night for the midfielder. He worked hard but was dribbled past four times, which is a concern. Picked up a late yellow card for a cynical foul. He showed some nice touches going forward but ultimately his defensive frailties were exposed on a few occasions.

Leonardo Lelo - 8.0: The undisputed man of the match. He was the creative engine for Sporting Braga, providing the crucial assist for the winning goal. Created four chances and was a constant threat with his crossing. From our perspective, he was the difference-maker in a very tight game and fully deserves the highest rating.

João Moutinho - 6.5: The veteran midfielder showed his experience with some tidy passing and intelligent positioning. He kept the ball moving in the middle of the park but didn't have a defining impact on the game. Seemed to control the tempo well before he was substituted just after the hour mark.

Gabriel Moscardo - 7.5: An all-action display in midfield. He was immense defensively, winning 10 duels and making 5 tackles. What stood out to us was his incredible work rate and ability to break up play. He was a disruptive force that Feyenoord's midfield struggled to handle all night.

Forwards

Amine El Ouazzani - 6.0: A quiet evening for the attacker. He battled hard but was often isolated and struggled to get into the game. Lost a lot of his aerial battles and couldn't hold the ball up effectively. Was substituted after an hour, having made little impact on the proceedings.

Rodrigo Zalazar - 7.0: Looked like one of Braga's most likely sources of a goal. He was a livewire, constantly trying to make things happen with his dribbling and crossing. Recovered the ball 10 times, showing a great desire to win it back. A very energetic performance before he was taken off.

Ricardo Horta - 6.5: The captain had a decent game without being spectacular. He was neat and tidy in possession and worked hard for the team. Had a couple of shots off target but couldn't provide that clinical touch. His defensive work rate was commendable, contributing with tackles and clearances.

Substitutes

Jean-Baptiste Gorby - 6.0: Came on for João Moutinho and helped see out the game. Kept things simple and didn't make any noticeable errors.

Fran Navarro - 6.0: Replaced the ineffective Amine El Ouazzani but also struggled to get involved in the attack.

Pau Víctor - 5.5: Brought on to add fresh legs but ended up committing a couple of needless fouls. Didn't add much to the attack.

Diego Rodrigues - 6.0: Had one decent chance that he fired over the bar. Looked lively but lacked the final product.

Vítor Carvalho - N/A: Came on late to help shore up the defence and see out the win.

Manager

C. Vicens - 7.0: Set his team up perfectly to nullify Feyenoord's threats. His side was organized and disciplined, which was the foundation for this victory. His substitutions were logical, even if they didn't all have a huge impact. A classic European home performance masterminded by the coach.

Feyenoord Player Ratings vs Sporting Braga

Here are the Feyenoord player ratings vs Sporting Braga.

Goalkeeper

Timon Wellenreuther - 6.5: Made a good save to deny Rodrigo Zalazar in the first half. Couldn't do much about the goal. His distribution was solid, and he commanded his area well. A reliable performance despite the defeat.

Defenders

Bart Nieuwkoop - 5.5: A difficult evening for the right-back. He struggled to get forward effectively and was often loose in possession, losing it 16 times. Defensively, he was okay, winning most of his tackles, but he looked uncomfortable on the ball and was eventually substituted.

Gijs Smal - 7.0: One of Feyenoord's better players. He was a constant outlet on the left, getting forward to support the attack and delivering some dangerous crosses. Forced a good save from the Braga keeper in the first half. A really energetic and positive display.

Anel Ahmedhodzic - 6.0: A mixed performance from the central defender. He was strong in the tackle and made some important clearances. However, he also committed a couple of needless fouls and seemed to struggle with the movement of Braga's attackers at times. A decent but not dominant display.

Malcolm Jeng - 6.5: Looked composed on the ball for most of the match, boasting a high pass accuracy. Made some crucial interceptions and clearances. From our perspective, he was the more assured of the two centre-backs but was part of a defence that ultimately conceded.

Midfielders

Quinten Timber - 6.0: Looked bright in the first half, creating a couple of chances before an unfortunate injury forced him off at halftime. He was battling hard in midfield, but his evening was cut short. His absence was felt in the second half.

Gonçalo Borges - 5.5: A frustrating performance. He showed flashes of his dribbling ability but was often wasteful in the final third. Lost possession 17 times and was caught offside twice. We felt he made the wrong decision too many times when in good positions.

Sem Steijn - 5.5: A very quiet game from the captain. He struggled to make any real impact on the proceedings. His passing was tidy, but he offered very little in terms of creativity or goal threat. A disappointing and anonymous display.

Gaoussou Diarra - 5.0: A night to forget for the midfielder. He was incredibly wasteful in front of goal, missing three clear chances. He seemed to snatch at his opportunities and his confidence visibly drained. Lost the ball far too often and was a weak link in the team.

Oussama Targhalline - 7.0: A strong contender for Feyenoord's best player. He was a warrior in midfield, making 5 interceptions and winning 8 duels. He was everywhere, breaking up play and trying to drive his team forward. His yellow card was a result of his combative style. A really impressive individual performance in a losing effort.

Forwards

Casper Tengstedt - 5.0: Completely anonymous. He barely touched the ball and offered no threat whatsoever. Lost both of his aerial duels and seemed to be completely swallowed up by the Braga defence. It was no surprise to see him substituted after an hour.

Substitutes

Luciano Valente - 5.5: Came on for the injured Quinten Timber at half-time but failed to influence the game and picked up a silly yellow card.

Cyle Larin - 6.5: Almost the hero for Feyenoord. He came on and provided a much-needed physical presence, rattling the crossbar with a powerful header. He was a handful for the Braga defence and made a real difference.

Jordan Lotomba - 6.0: Replaced Bart Nieuwkoop and looked a bit more solid defensively. Didn't offer much going forward but was a steady presence.

Anis Hadj Moussa - N/A: Came on for the final 10 minutes but had little time to make an impact on the game.

Manager

R. van Persie - 6.0: His team lacked a clinical edge, which ultimately cost them the game. The decision to bring on Cyle Larin was a good one and almost paid off. However, his starting forwards were completely ineffective. He will be disappointed that his side created chances but failed to take any of them.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Leonardo Lelo