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Wolves qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League after playing out a thrilling draw with Braga in Portugal.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side arrived at the Estadio Municipal de Braga a point behind the hosts and Group K leaders, needing a point to progress with a game to spare.
And they claimed the point they needed from an exciting encounter that saw them fall behind early on and race into a 3-1 lead before being pegged back.
Andre Horta’s deflected effort off Ruben Neves gave the hosts an early advantage.
But the visitors responded in emphatic fashion, scoring three first-half goals, with Raul Jimenez’s headed equaliser the catalyst for the turnaround.
After nodding in Jonny’s cross to level, the Mexican’s delivery enabled Matt Doherty to put Wolves ahead, with Adama Traore’s low effort a minute later, from another Jimenez pass, doubling Wolves’ lead.
However, Braga are now unbeaten in 12 European matches after they fought back in the second half.
Paulinho reduced their arrears before Fransergio headed in from close range to round off the scoring. The result sees both sides qualify with a game remaining.
Jimenez key to Wolves’ improved fortunes
For much of this game Wolves delivered a performance which suggested any early-season woes juggling their Premier League and European commitments were over.
While the club’s slow domestic start has been attributed to their first European campaign since 1980-81, head coach Nuno can now at least relax in the knowledge that the knockout phase does not get under way until 20 February.
Back in his native Portugal, and perhaps a sign of the importance attached to the game, Nuno fielded the same starting XI that featured in their Premier League win over Bournemouth on Saturday.
It ultimately ensured Wolves secured the point needed to make their final Group K match against Besiktas inconsequential.
Mexican forward Jimenez’s purple patch in front of goal contributed heavily to that.
Jimenez’s header – his seventh goal in his past eight games makes him the most prolific Premier League player this season, with 15 goals across all competitions – galvanised his side.
It also ensured he became the first Wolves player to score in three consecutive games in Europe since Derek Dougan, who accomplished that feat en-route to the final of this competition in 1971-72.
And his importance to Wolves’ continued resurgence cannot be understated, with the the Black Country club scheduled to play 13 Premier League matches before the last-32 ties in the Europa League start.
Best of the stats
- Wolves remain unbeaten away from home in European competition this season, winning five games and drawing once.
- Braga are unbeaten in 12 matches in all European competition since defeat at Marseille in February 2018 in the Europa League (W8 D4).
- Wolves have lost just one of their last seven matches in all competitions when conceding the first goal of the game (W1 D5) – against Aston Villa in the League Cup in October (1-2).
- Matt Doherty has scored 11 goals for Wolves since the start of last season – only Raul Jimenez (32) and Diogo Jota (14) have netted more for the club over this period.
- Wolves’ Raul Jimenez has scored 15 goals in all club competitions this season, more than any other Premier League player in 2019-20.
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