Sporting Braga 1-0 Nottingham Forest Player Ratings: Yates Own Goal Decides Scrappy Affair at UEL

A bizarre night unfolded at the Estádio Municipal de Braga as Sporting Braga scraped a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in this Europa League clash. The game was finely balanced and could have gone either way, but a combination of misfortune and moments of goalkeeping brilliance ultimately decided the result.

The defining sequence came in a chaotic three-minute spell.

Nottingham Forest were presented with a golden opportunity from the penalty spot, only for Morgan Gibbs-White’s effort to be heroically saved by Lukas Hornicek. Just moments later, disaster struck at the other end when an unlucky Ryan Yates deflected the ball into his own net, giving Sporting Braga the lead.

Forest had their chances to respond. Ola Aina rattled the woodwork, and the visitors created several promising opportunities, but they could not find the finishing touch. The match was scrappy and foul-ridden throughout, with Forest finishing the game a man down following Anderson’s red card, making their night even more frustrating.

In the end, Braga claimed the points, but Forest were left shocked by the home side.

Let’s take a look at Sportsdunia’s Sporting Braga vs Nottingham Forest player ratings from the Europa League clash.

Key Takeaways

• Gibbs-White’s missed penalty and Yates’ own goal decided the match.
• Multiple chances and a woodwork strike went unrewarded, compounded by a late red card.
• Goalkeeping brilliance and a slice of luck secured a 1–0 victory.

Nottingham Forest Player Ratings vs Sporting Braga

Here's a look at the Nottingham Forest Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Matz Sels - 6.0: Honestly, he had very little to do all night. He was a spectator for large parts of the game. He couldn't do anything about the unfortunate own goal that flew past him. A quiet and frustrating evening for the keeper.

Defenders

Morato - 6.5: A solid and composed performance from the defender. He was comfortable on the ball and his passing was tidy, helping to build from the back. He wasn't tested too severely but did what was required of him without any fuss. A decent outing.

Nikola Milenković - 6.5: He was a physical presence at the back for Forest. Made a couple of important blocks when Braga threatened. However, he did give away a few needless fouls which put his team under pressure. Overall, a mixed but generally positive display.

Ola Aina - 7.0: What stood out to us was his attacking intent. He was so unlucky to see his powerful shot cannon back off the crossbar. He was a constant threat down the flank before being substituted. A very lively performance that deserved a goal.

Nicolò Savona - 6.0: Did his job defensively for the most part. Kept things simple and didn't take many risks. We noticed he was a bit clumsy in the challenge, committing a few fouls. A steady, if unspectacular, performance.

Midfielders

Douglas Luiz - 7.0: He was the calm head in a chaotic midfield for long periods. His passing was crisp and accurate, helping Forest retain possession. From our perspective, he controlled his area of the pitch well before being taken off. A strong shift.

Ryan Yates - 4.5: A truly horrible night for the captain. You have to feel for him. He worked tirelessly as he always does but that unfortunate own goal was the decisive moment of the match. A moment of terrible luck that overshadows his entire performance.

James McAtee - 7.5: He was the brightest spark in a Forest shirt. His clever play and quick feet won the penalty in the second half. He constantly looked to make things happen and create opportunities for his teammates. A very promising performance.

Dilane Bakwa - 5.5: We were a bit disappointed with his contribution. He struggled to get into the game and was on the periphery for much of his time on the pitch. He lost possession too many times and failed to make a real impact before his substitution.

Forwards

Morgan Gibbs-White - 5.0: A night he will want to forget. The missed penalty was a massive moment and you could see his confidence drop after that. He had a few shots saved but the big chance went begging. A frustrating evening for a player of his quality.

Dan Ndoye - 6.0: He ran the channels well and his work rate was impressive. However, the final product was lacking. He got into some good positions but couldn't quite find the killer pass or finish. A performance full of effort but little reward.

Substitutes

Substitutes - N/A: Callum Hudson-Odoi, Elliot Anderson, and others were brought on to chase the game. They tried to inject some energy but ultimately couldn't find the breakthrough needed to change the result.

Manager

S. Dyche - 6.0: He set his team up to be competitive, and they were. He can't be blamed for a missed penalty or a freak own goal. His side was arguably the better team for stretches. The substitutions didn't quite have the desired effect, but it was a night of fine margins.

Sporting Braga Player Ratings vs Nottingham Forest

Let's take a look at the Sporting Braga Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Lukas Hornicek - 8.5: Absolutely the Man of the Match, no question. The penalty save was magnificent and a genuine match-winning moment. He made several other important saves throughout the game. A heroic, commanding performance that earned his team the three points.

Defenders

Sikou Niakaté - 5.0: A really tough first half for the defender. He picked up an early yellow card and looked off the pace. It was no surprise to us when he was substituted at half-time. He looked like a liability at times.

Gustaf Lagerbielke - 7.5: In contrast to his partner, he was a rock at the back. He was dominant in the air and won all of his duels. His composure on the ball was impressive, and he marshaled the backline superbly. A very strong display.

Bright Arrey-Mbi - 7.0: A solid and reliable performance. He complemented Lagerbielke well, keeping things simple and effective. His passing was accurate and he didn't make any notable errors. A disciplined and professional job.

Midfielders

Víctor Gómez - 6.5: He provided good energy up and down the wing. Put in a great ball for a big chance that was missed. However, he was a bit careless in possession at times, turning the ball over. An energetic but inconsistent performance.

Florian Grillitsch - 6.5: The midfield metronome for Braga while he was on. His pass accuracy was excellent, and he kept the play ticking over nicely. He did a good job of shielding the defense. A quiet but effective outing.

Gorby - 7.0: An incredibly tidy performance in the middle of the park. His pass completion was near-perfect. He was clever in drawing fouls to relieve pressure. A very controlled and intelligent display that helped Braga manage the game.

Gabri Martínez - 5.5: A chaotic and reckless performance. He foolishly gave away the penalty and was lucky his keeper bailed him out. He worked hard, but his decision-making was poor. From our perspective, he was a walking yellow card all night.

Forwards

Ricardo Horta - 7.0: The captain led by example with a busy performance. He was always involved in Braga's attacks and had a couple of shots. He linked up play well and was a constant nuisance for the Forest defense. A solid captain's display.

Diego Rodrigues - 7.5: He was Braga's main creative outlet. His crossing was superb and he created several good chances for his teammates. He drew a number of fouls with his tricky dribbling. A very dangerous and effective performance on the wing.

Fran Navarro - 5.0: A very anonymous performance from the striker. He was completely isolated and struggled to make any impact on the game. He barely had a touch of the ball and it was no shock when he was substituted just after the hour mark.

Substitutes

Substitutes - N/A: Vítor Carvalho helped shore up the defence after coming on at halftime. Pau Víctor also looked lively and added some pace to the attack, but the substitutes were mainly focused on seeing out the narrow win.

Manager

C. Vicens - 7.0: He'll be delighted with the result, if not the performance. His team rode their luck but were organized. The decision to take off the struggling Niakaté at halftime was the right call. A gritty, hard-fought victory was secured.

Man of the Match

Goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek was Sportsdunia's man of the match.

Worst Performer

Ryan Yates was the unfortunate worst performer in the Sporting Braga vs Nottingham Forest UEL clash.