Ground: Estádio 1 Maio

Visits: 1

Date: 6th January 2018

Match: Braga B - Sporting Club de Portugal B  0-0  (Liga Pro)

Attendance: 450

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In 2003 the new football ground, Estádio Municipal de Braga, was opened and in the 2004 European Championships two games were played at the new ground. Since then Estádio 1 Maio has been used by Braga´s other teams. Braga B play in the Portuguese 2nd division and play most of their games at Estádio 1 Maio. A few days before I left for Portugal Hasse Eskilsson phoned me and suggested I would go to Braga B v Sporting B instead of Leixões v Famalicao. In 1989/90 he played for Braga and back then Estádio 1 Maio was of course the venue for Braga´s home games. In the end, as you know by now, I could attend both games and once at the ground I can understand why he suggested I should go to this game. Estádio 1 Maio, opened in 1950, is an ugly old concrete bowl and that is the kind of ground groundhoppers really like. Capacity used to be 28 000 but nowadays it is restricted to 5 000. Having been to Estádio de Municipal de Braga to buy tickets for the evening game we had 30 minutes to make it to Estádio 1 Maio. Unfortunately I entered the wrong address in the GPS and once inside the ground the game was in the fourth minute. As I asked for tickets I was given tickets for the VIP-area and had to pay 4 Euros for them. We were given line-ups but once we found our “box” there were no chairs so we had to stand. From the top of the stand we had a great view of the action though.

450 fans, including 15 or so groundhoppers, was at Estádio 1 Maio for this meeting between Braga´s and Sporting´s B-teams. This was unfortunately one of the most boring games I have been to in years. Hardly any chances and if these players want to make it to the A-teams improvements are needed. It had been quite warm sitting in the sunshine at Leixões but having to stand/sit in the shadow meant I was starting to freeze. Neither the game nor the fact I was by now wearing a winter coat warm me up. Not surprisingly the game ended 0-0 and we quickly headed to the car for the short journey to our hotel. We had something to eat and then a well-deserved rest before going to our third game of the day.​

Entrance to the stadium area

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Rear of Estádio 1 Maio​

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Rear of the North Stand

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View of Estádio 1 Maio

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North Stand​

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Tower​

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Tower​

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Fans​

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View of play​

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East Stand​

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View of play​

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South Stand​

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Fans​

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Pano​