Saturday, May 14, 2011

Lions Top Braga On The Road In Season Finale To Grab Third Place In Portuguese Top Flight

At Braga, Portugal:


Yannick Djalo scored the only goal of the match on Saturday as Sporting knocked off Europa League finalists Sporting Braga 1-0 as the Portuguese Liga season came to a conclusion.  The Lions finish in third place and will take part in the playoff round for a berth in the group stage of next season's Europa League.  As for Braga, they have ensured themselves at least of a Europa League playoff round berth.  However, should they defeat FC Porto in Wednesday's Europa League final in Dublin, they would directly qualify for the group stage of next season's tounament.  FC Porto (unbeaten league champions) will take part in the group stage of next season's UEFA Champions League while SL Benfica will enter that tournament in the third qualifying round.  Vitoria de Guimaraes, who finished fifth, will enter Europa League play in the third qualifying round (should they win the final of Portugal's big domestic cup competition, they would start in the playoff round instead).  CD Nacional will take part in the Europa League's second qualifying round.  Portimonense and Naval 1 de Maio have been relegated.

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