PSG loanee Gabriel Moscardo embraced an unexpected defensive role, proving his mettle and making a decisive impact in Braga's crucial draw.
Perpetual substitute in Braga's midfield, where he is on loan from PSG, Gabriel Moscardo made himself noticed during the clash against Sporting Portugal with a good entry at center back.
Moscardo, 20, appears to have left his injury struggles behind after a challenging first year in Europe with Stade de Reims. Currently on loan from PSG to SC Braga for this season and potentially the next, he has become a regular, having appeared in 25 matches. However, his playing time has been relatively limited, totaling just 797 minutes.
In other words, the Brazilian defensive midfielder is a player who comes off the bench in practically every match and fails to shake up the midfield hierarchy in Braga's 3-4-3, still involved in the Europa League and solidly clinging to fourth place in the Portuguese championship. But this Saturday night, during the clash against Sporting Portugal, he came on as a center back for the first time.
This entry at halftime in place of Paulo Oliveira offered him his biggest playing time in two months, and the Brazilian, lined up on the right of the three-man defense, made rather good use of it. If he received a warning on the hour mark for cutting down Geny Catamo, he also made a decisive tackle on a counter-attack that allowed Braga to stay in the match before snatching the equalizer at the end of added time (2-2 final score).
The Portuguese press, not always kind to him, rather appreciated his entry into the game, and Record gives him a rating of 3/5, emphasizing that he "was solid." Abola is harsher with a 5/10, but the comment concerning him is rather positive: "He proved himself. He integrated very well into the game, did not hesitate in duels (he was not conditioned by the yellow card received) and even disarmed Suárez twice."
Record is more generous with a 6/10, and the sports newspaper notes that Moscardo "was effective in duels and made a decisive tackle to stop a counter-attack." Remains to be seen if this good half will offer him more playing time in the future.
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