Braga 1-0 Feyenoord - Fran Navarro strikes late as the Warriors make a winning start in the Europa League | OneFootball

Braga began their Europa League campaign with an important 1-0 win against Feyenoord at the Quarry.

Chances were few and far between, the Warriors taking control before the break and rarely losing their grip on the contest.

The winning goal came in the 79th minute, substitute Fran Navarro getting onto Leonardo Lelo’s cross and beating Timon Wellenreuther with a smart first time finish.

Carlos Vicens was rewarded for making changes to his team, Braga finally keeping a long overdue clean sheet against a weakened Feyenoord side.

Braga 1-0 Feyenoord

It was a cagey start with Feyenoord showing some early promise, Gijs Smal firing straight at Lukas Hornicek before creating a chance for Gaoussou Diarra that the winger missed by a mile.

Braga’s first opportunity came in the 37th minute but their best chance came in added time following a free flowing piece of play, Ricardo Horta shooting wide from an offside position.

The Warriors maintained the pressure after the break but couldn’t fashion a shot on target.

Robin Van Persie had seen enough and made two substitutions in the 62nd minute when Malcolm Jeng and Casper Tengstedt made way for Tsuyoshi Watanabe and Cyle Larin. Carlos Vicens replaced João Moutinho and Amine El Ouazzani with Jean-Baptiste Gorby and Fran Navarro.

Vicens went to his bench again nine minutes later when Rodrigo Zalazar and Horta made way for Diego Rodrigues and Pau Víctor. Rodrigues went close less than 60 seconds after being introduced, guiding Leonardo Lelo's cross wide.

The home crowd breathed a big sigh of relief in the 79th minute when Larin headed Smal’s cross against the post, replays showing the striker was narrowly offside.

Braga immediately went up the other end took the lead. Navarro did well to get ahead of Watanabe and guide Lelo’s cross in off the woodwork, the striker’s smart first time finish beating Timon Wellenreuther at his near post.

Larin scored from an offside position late on but there would be no comeback. Braga held on for an important victory and kept their first clean sheet in six games.

Overdue clean sheet

It was an important win against a Feyenoord side who were kept scoreless for the first time this season. Manager Robin van Persie started with Jordan Bos, Tsuyoshi Watanabe and Anis Hadj Moussa on the bench, top scorer Ayase Ueda unavailable.

Gabriel Moscardo came into the starting side for Jean-Baptiste Gorby and had a solid performance, the 19-year-old stating his case for more game time. Rodrigo Zalazar had plenty of touches in an attempt to spark Braga into action before he ran out of steam in the second half.

Braga had failed to keep a clean sheet in five games, the run seeing AVS, Lincoln Red Imps and Gil Vicente score at the Quarry. Carlos Vicens began the game with Gustaf Lagerbielke, Sikou Niakaté and Bright Arrey-Mbi in central defence with Victor Gomez and Leonardo Lelo the wing-backs.

Vicens will be hoping his side can maintain the momentum against Nacional on Sunday, Braga travelling to Scotland next week when they will face Celtic in Glasgow.