Nacional beat Braga 1-0 in an entertaining clash at the Quarry.
Chuchu Ramírez struck in the 6th minute following a swift move down the left wing, Braga going closest on the stroke of half-time when Ricardo Horta hit the post.
The Warriors were unable to turn the tide in the second half, Nacional substitute Witi missing two glorious chances in added time.
The defeat was a new low for Carlos Vicens who appears to have run out of ideas, influence and support.
Braga 0-1 Nacional
Nacional got off to a great start at the Quarry where they took the lead in the 6th minute. Paulinho Bóia released José Gomes who raced past Gustaf Lagerbielke and sent a perfect cross into Chuchu Ramírez who steered the ball past Lukas Hornicek.
It took Braga 30 minutes to fashion their first shot of the game, João Moutinho’s harmless effort sailing over the bar. Ricardo went to close to equalising before the break, playing a 1-2 with Rodrigo Zalazar and firing a shot that hit the post and rebounded across the face of goal.
Carlos Vicens made a triple switch at the break with Moutinho, Zalazar Gabri and Bright Arrey-Mbi making way for Jean-Baptiste Gorby, Diego Rodrigues and Gabri Martínez.
Braga began to turn up the heat with Gabri heavily involved, but the Warriors were not getting close to testing Kaique.
The Warriors were leaving themselves exposed at the back, Pablo Ruan and Ramírez testing Hornicek before Vicens introduced Pau Victor and Florian Grillitsch for Fran Navarro and Víctor Gómez.
Gabri’s cross was diverted wide by Chico Gonçalves but that’s the closest the hosts got to drawing level.
Nacional should have made it 2-0 in added time when Gomes broke clear and teed up the unmarked Witi. The substitute had the goal at his mercy but decided to turn the gift into a comedy shot, shooting straight at Hornicek and sending the follow up effort against the post.
Days numbered for Vicens
Carlos Vicens was under pressure before the 1-0 Europa League victory against an understrength Feyenoord. There was a chance that the win might spark his team into some form, but those hopes have now been obliterated.
Braga had previously lost at home against Nacional only once, in 2013 when Rúben Amorim, Custódio and Hugo Viana started for the northern club. The recent 1-0 defeat against Gil Vicente was bad but losing to the Madeiran club is a new low.
Vicens and his side were clueless against Nacional and it’s not that surprising. I have written a lot about the Spanish manager and his tactics since he broke away from Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and there is nothing to add here.
To give him some credit, it’s not all his fault. Some of the blame should be attributed to António Salvador, his scouting department and those responsible for squad planning despite Roger Fernandes’ late transfer to Al-Ittihad.
Braga have way too many midfielders and not enough full-backs. Gustaf Lagerbielke is a liability, was clearly targeted by Nacional and will continue to be targeted.
Tiago Margarido directed his team from the press seats and was still too good for Vicens who is in the same position he was when he took over, simply no idea what his best formation or starting side is despite having 15 competitive games in charge.
It’s hard to see a way back for the Spaniard now. Salvador will surely be on the phone to line up a replacement who could be announced after the matches at Celtic and Sporting Clube de Portugal which would give the new manager an international break to bed in before a Taça de Portugal clash at Bragança and three consecutive home games.
