The Portuguese Primeira Liga returns with a fresh set of fixtures as Benfica travel to the Estadio Braga Municipal to face Sporting Braga on Friday.
Sporting Braga returned to winning ways in the Primeira Liga two weeks ago when the managed to defeat Portimonense 2-1 at Estadio Municipal de Portimao.
They took a two-goal lead inside the opening 22 minutes through Francisco Moura and Yan Couto, before David Carmo accidentally turned the ball into his net shortly after the hour mark to pull one back for the hosts.
Before that, Carlos Carvalhal’s side failed to win any of their previous three league matches, playing out successive draws with Santa Clara and Boavista before losing 1-0 to Gil Vicente on March 13.
Braga, who progressed to the quarter-finals of the Europa League by securing a 3-1 aggregate victory over Ligue 1 side Monaco, are currently fourth in the tabel having collected 49 points from 27 matches.
However, Braga head into the contest without a win in any of their last two home matchess and will be looking to end this dry spell.
Meanwhile, Benfica ensured they remain within touching distance with Sporting Lisbon when they secured a 2-1 victory over Estoril Praia just before the international break.
That followed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Ajax on Match 15, when Darwin Nunez scored in the 77th minute to condemn the Eredivisie champions to an aggregate defeat and a round of 16 exit from the Champions League.
Nelson Verissimo’s side head into Friday’s game unbeaten in each of their last nine matches across all competitions, recording six wins and three draws since a 2-1 home loss against Gil Vicente on February 2.
Benfica have won 19, drawn four and lost four of their 27 games this season to collect 61 points and sit third in the league table.
Sporting Braga vs Benfica head to head
The two sides have previously met on 67 occasions across all competitions, where Benfica have taken 38 victories while Braga have won 15, and they have drawn in 14. Braga have scored 62 goals and conceded 120. In their last five meetings, Braga have won three while Benfica have won twice.
Benfica 2-3 Sporting Braga 08/11/20
Sporting Braga 2-1 Benfica 20/01/21
Sporting Braga 0-2 Benfica 21/03/21
Sporting Braga 2-0 Benfica 23/05/21
Benfica 6-1 Sporting Braga 08/11/21
Sporting Braga latest home form
Braga lost their last home game 1-0 to Gil Vicente on March 13 in the league. However, they have recently been on a good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in five matches prior to that. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded two.
Sporting Braga 2-1 Pacos Ferreira 12/02/22
Sporting Braga (P)2-0 Sheriff 24/02/22
Sporting Braga 0-0 Santa Clara 28/02/22
Sporting Braga 2-0 Monaco 10/03/22
Sporting Braga 0-1 Gil Vicente 13/03/22
Sporting Braga latest away form
Braga have recently been on a good run of form on the road, having been unbeaten in their four most recent matches. Their last away defeat came on February 17 when they lost 2-0 to Sheriff in the Europa League. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded five.
Sheriff 2-0 Sporting Braga 17/02/22
Tondela 0-1 Sporting Braga 20/02/22
Boavista 1-1 Sporting Braga 05/03/22
Monaco 1-1 Sporting Braga 17/03/22
Portimonense 1-2 Sporting Braga 20/03/22
Benfica latest home form
Benfica have recently kept a good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their five most recent matches. Their last home defeat came on February 2 when they lost 2-1 to Gil Vicente in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 10 goals and conceded five.
Benfica 2-1 Santa Clara 12/02/22
Benfica 2-2 Ajax 23/02/22
Benfica 3-0 Vitoria Guimaraes 27/02/22
Benfica 1-1 Vizela 11/03/22
Benfica 2-1 Estoril 20/03/22
Benfica latest away form
Benfica have recently been on a good run of form on the road, having been unbeaten in their five most recent matches. In their last away match, they managed to defeat Ajax 1-0 in the Chmapions League. In their last five matches, they have scored 10 goals and conceded four.
Arouca 0-2 Benfica 21/01/22
Tondela 1-3 Benfica 07/02/22
Boavista 2-2 Benfica 18/02/22
Portimonense 1-2 Benfica 05/03/22
Ajax 0-1 Benfica 15/03/22
Sporting Braga news
Lucas Mineiro returned from his injury lay-off against Portimonense, although Braga remain without 31-year-old defender Nuno Sequeira who has been out injured since November’s reverse fixture.
Jean Gorby and Roger Fernandes are also out of contention for Sporting Braga on Friday as they make their return from the sidelines through injuries.
Benfica news
Verissimo will be unable to call upon the Brazilian duo of Rodrigo Pinho and Lucas Verissimo, who continue their long journey to full fitness after suffering muscle and knee injuries respectively.
Nunez should start in attack for As Aguias after sitting out Uruguay’s final qualifying game against Chile on Wednesday.
Prediction and Odds
We expect both sides to take the game to each other in search of a morale-boosting result, especially with their European commitments on the horizon.
However, considering the past results between the sides and the current form on either camps, we see Benfica as the clear favourites to win here.
Odds: 1 2.40 X 2.15 2 1.89
Probable outcomes
Sporting Braga 0-1 Benfica
Sporting Braga 0-2 Benfica
Sporting Braga 1-2 Benfica
Sporting Braga 1-3 Benfica
Sporting Braga 2-3 Benfica
