Copenhagen and Braga go open dia Conference League league-phase campaign on Thursday when di two sides meet for Parken Stadium.
Both teams secure dia place through di qualifying route. Byens Hold overcome Inter Turku for di playoffs, while di Archbishops also negotiate two-legged tie against Austria Vienna to book dia place for di competition proper.
Copenhagen return to di Conference League after one difficult 2025-26 campaign, as dem finish 31st for di Champions League league phase last term. A disappointing domestic season mean say dem had to secure European competition place through playoff victory over Brondby.
Bo Svensson side still look far more convincing for Europe dis term, as dem win four of dia six fixtures (D2) across three qualifying rounds, score 17 goals and concede just six.
Those results dey supported by dia performances for Parken, where Copenhagen win all three of dia continental qualifiers dis year, including 4-1 triumph over Inter Turku wey secure dia progression to di Conference League league phase.
In fact, Svensson men don win all seven of dia home games dis season across all competitions, scoring at least twice for every one of dem, while five of those victories come by multiple-goal margins.
However, Copenhagen head into Thursday encounter on di back of domestic setback, as dem lose 2-1 away to Midtjylland at di weekend, although di Lions remain top of di Danish Superliga table and go look to respond on di continental stage.
Meanwhile, Braga reach di Europa League semi-finals for 2025-26, though dia fourth-place finish for Portugal top flight see dem settle for place for Europe third-tier tournament dis season, with Taca de Portugal winners Torreense taking di domestic cup route into di competition.
Like di hosts, di Archbishops had to navigate three qualifying rounds to reach dis stage, and dia progress dey underpinned by solid defence wey keep clean sheets in all six of dia Conference League preliminary matches, having also edge past Austria Vienna for di playoffs with 2-0 aggregate victory.
Braga domestic results no too convince, however, with 3-1 defeat to Sporting Lisbon on Friday leave Carlos Vicens men seventh for di Primeira Liga table and with just one victory in dia last four outings (D1, L2).
While di Archbishops go aim to respond on di continental stage dis midweek, dia struggles on di road remain concern, having manage just one win across dia last six away matches, although losing only once during that spell suggest di Portuguese visitors fit still take something from Copenhagen.
