The rivalry between Braga and Vitória spans generations and over 160 official matches. In the overall historical record, Braga hold a slight advantage, but Vitória harbour very sweet recent memories, such as winning the League Cup. Separated by just over 20 kilometres, the two cities treat this match as almost a neighbourhood affair, where pride weighs as much as or more than the league table.
Braga arrive at this derby shrouded in questions. Carlos Vicens is still getting to know the squad in official competition, since the long European campaign forced two league fixtures to be postponed, and this is only Braga's second league match of the season. It is a team still trying to find its competitive rhythm under a Spanish coach trained in the Manchester City school, who faces the challenge of managing the emotional intensity of a derby with a squad that has had little playing time together.
Vitória, by contrast, arrive on an upward curve. The team come from beating Nacional, their first victory of the season, and experience Tiago Margarido's debut on the bench for a derby, the most demanding baptism there is. Margarido is young and ambitious, and knows that a positive result at the Pedreira is worth more to the Vitória members than any introductory speech. The team seems to have more competitive experience than their rivals on this night.
Off the pitch, between 15 and 17 thousand Braga fans and about 1,600 from Vitória are expected, in a total that could reach 18,600 spectators at the Pedreira. On the Guimarães side, fans already known as fervent supporters cross the border to bring the black and white colours to the opposing stands. On the other side, a Pedreira full of red and white expects to transform the stadium into a kind of fortress. The kick-off will be handled by André Narciso, but it is on these nights that one realizes a derby doesn't start when the referee blows the whistle, nor does it end when the ball stops rolling.
