Portuguese clubs take pride in scouts attending their games, lists are published for each gane and the local media covers it as part of the match report.
For example, that’s how it’s known, as a fact, that Leeds United had an official at the match between Chaves and Tondela in September. They didn’t return, and aren’t one of the Championship clubs who scout Portuguese football most often.
That’s why it’s intriguing to see Scouts in Attendance report Leeds United had someone watch SC Braga against Hoffenheim on Thursday evening.
#lufc scout watched Braga 3-1 #TSG1899Hoffenheim on Thurs, 2 goals from 27yo MF Fransergio, 26yo FW Mark Uth (available on free in summer) scored as sub, wouldn’t bother with the Hoffenheim keeper though!https://t.co/xpOIrBep0w
— Scouts in Attendance (@scoutsattending) November 24, 2017
None of the Portuguese sports newspapers are reporting scouts for the match, and there’s no mention in Portugal of Leeds United having someone in attendance.
Nevertheless, it’ll have been an interesting match to watch, with Braga winning 3-1 and Fransergio, who scored two goals, widely named as the best performer on the pitch.
On the Hoffenheim side, Nico Schulz, Kerem Demirbay, and Mark Uth were the best performers, according to A Bola, with the latter managing to get a good mark despite only coming on in the second half.
Uth scored Hoffenheim’s only goal of the game, and the 26 year old has a contract ending in June. Linked to a string of Premier League clubs in the past, perhaps Leeds fancied a look at the player.
