Express & Star

A tale of two cities for Wolves fans in Porto and Braga

Joe Edwards reports from Portugal, where Wolves fans have faced very different experiences in Porto and Braga.

Published

It has very much been a tale of two cities here in Portugal.

In host city Braga, Wolves fans have been welcomed with open arms and been in high spirits - making the most of their European adventure, without trouble - despite torrential rain.

However, over in nearby Porto, where a vast amount of the 6,000 supporters who have made the trip stopped before going to the game, there has been a lot of unsavoury scenes, with one supporter believing he saw somebody who had been stabbed.

Wolves were targeted by followers of Belgian club Standard Liege ahead of their match against Vitoria in Guimaraes, also in the Europa League.

WATCH: Police break-up Porto trouble

The Liege hooligans, operating in a large pack, are said to have picked off small groups of the gold and black faithful in Porto bars.

They are believed to have been specifically targeting British fans, with Belgians walking around asking where people were from.

There is not thought to have been a mass brawl, but rather the Liege ultras were intimidating, outnumbering and then attacking people in several incidents across the city.

Wolves fans in a wet Braga ahead of Wolves' Europa League match

Dave Timmins, from Sedgley, said: "We couldn't get away from it, to be honest. Every bar we went to, something happened - waiting for us outside.

"They were everywhere, chucking things at the pub and trying to charge into the pub. We saw one Wolves fan who we think got stabbed. He was laying on the floor with blood everywhere.

"I thought those days had gone, to be honest with you.

"We've come for an away day and a few beers. You don't want to see that."

More on this story:

One fan posted a picture of himself on Twitter after being ambushed in a pub by "around 40 Standard Liege fans" and suffering a fractured cheek bone, fractured eye socket, and a broken nose.

Wolves fans had to disembark one scheduled train into Braga after a fan required treatment from paramedics due to suffering a gash on his head, although the cause is not known.

Videos of chairs and other missiles being thrown have spread on social media too.

"It was a bit chaotic throughout the city, Liege fans targeting small groups of people in bars," said Craig Melia, from Dudley.

Fortunately, there has been more of a party atmosphere in Braga, with bar owners allowing Wolves fans to hang flags from the windows.

Jason Brooks, from Dudley, said: "Standard Liege fans starting on the Wolves fans, but nothing in Braga, not that I know of. I think something happened on the train, but apart from that nothing.

"It's class. The atmosphere has been ridiculous, better than most matches.

"Even though it's raining, everyone is out here supporting the Wolves."

Ryan O'Connor, from Wolverhampton, added: "It's been fine in Braga, everyone is welcoming and friendly in the city," while Lee Bidwell described Braga as "superb".

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.