Braga - Betis Sevilla    (won)

I see two teams that are incredibly balanced but also possess the creativity needed to break each other down. This is such an important stage of the competition, and I truly believe neither side will be content with sitting back. In my opinion, both teams have the offensive power to ensure we see goals at both ends of the pitch tonight. Braga is coming into this game in solid shape. They’ve been formidable at the Estadio Municipal, recently showing their teeth with a massive 4-0 win over Ferencvaros to get here. Even in their domestic league, they just secured a 1-0 win over Moreirense. They’ve scored in 14 consecutive home matches, which show they do try to find the net in front of their own fans. Real Betis, meanwhile, has been a bit inconsistent lately but remains dangerous. While they’ve struggled for consistency in La Liga—coming off a 0-0 draw against Espanyol and a tough loss to Athletic Club—their European form is a different story. Like Braga, they overturned a first-leg deficit in the last round by smashing Panathinaikos 4-0. Even if their domestic away form is nit so good, I trust their quality to produce at least one moment to score in Portugal. These 2 aren’t teams that park the bus effectively for 90 minutes. I expect Braga to push for a lead to take to Seville, which will naturally leave spaces for Betis to exploit on the counter. Also expect Braga not to lose here so 2-1 1-1 might be the score.