Vitória de Guimarães Hosts Betis in European Showdown

The only Portuguese side still standing in European competitions, Vitória de Guimarães are riding high in the UEFA third tier, unbeaten so far. Having triumphed in six qualification matches, they’ve followed it up with four wins and two draws in the league stage, which has seen them finish second, just behind Chelsea, and secure direct passage to the knockout rounds.

Now under the guidance of manager Luís Freire—who has taken over from Daniel Sousa, who himself replaced Rui Borges—the team will be keen to harness the advantage of playing at home, buoyed by the passionate support of their fans. Previously in Seville, the team faced a challenging scenario, finding themselves trailing twice after goals from Cédric Bakambu (48 minutes) and Isco (76 minutes) for Betis. Yet they demonstrated resilience, equalising through João Mendes (51) and Nélson Oliveira (81).

Kick-off for tonight’s fixture in Guimarães is set for 20:00, with Dutch referee Serdar Gözübüyük taking charge of the proceedings. Should they manage to progress to the quarter-finals, Vitória will match their best-ever performance in European tournaments, achieving the same milestone as during the old UEFA Cup in the 1986/87 season, when they were eventually knocked out by Borussia Mönchengladbach.

For all the excitement, tune in and witness if the Portuguese side can make their mark on the European stage!

- Resource: 24 Sapo