Sporting Braga vs Rangers Match Analysis and Prediction

5 years ago 716

Rangers will make a trip to the Estadio Municipal de Braga to face Sporting Braga on Thursday for the first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-finals tie.

The hosts are currently sitting fourth in the Primeira Liga table, boasting 52 points from their 28 matches played, 18 points adrift of second-placed Sporting Lisbon.

Sporting Braga enter the contest off the back of 3-2 victory over Benfica in the domestic competition, with Iuri Medeiros, Andre Horta and Votor Oliveira all getting in the scoresheet to seal the victory for their side at the Estadio Municipal de Braga.

Os Arcebispos now turn their attention to the Europa league, where they managed to defeat Monaco 3-1 on aggregate in the round of 16 to progress to this stage of the competition.

After claiming a 2-0 victory in the first leg at home, they played out a 1-1 draw in the return match, with Abel Ruiz the lone player to find the back of the net in the second-leg draw, and they are currently unbeaten in their last three games in all competitions.

They now meet a Rangers outfit who won in the last meeting between the sides, with Gers coming out on top 1-0 in a Europa League round of 32 match at Estadion Municipal de Brag in February 2020, with Ryan Kent scoring the only goal for Rangers in the 61st minute.

Meanwhile, Rangers advanced to this stage of the Europa League after having defeated Red Star Belgrade 4-2 on aggregate in the round of 16.

They claimed a three-goal lead in the tie after the first leg at home, large enough to withstand a 2-1 defeat in the return match at Stadion Rajko Mitic, with Ryan Kent scoring in the second-leg loss, and are now entering Thursday’s contest with confidence of earning a first-leg lead.

Sporting Braga vs Rangers head to head

The two teams have previously met on only two occasions in the Europa League, where Rangers claimed the two victories home and away. Rangers have scored four goals and conceded two in the process. They now meet in the first leg of their quarter-finals of the same competition.

Rangers 3-2 Sporting Braga 20/02/20

Sporting Braga 0-1 Rangers 26/02/20

Sporting Braga latest home form

Sporting Braga have recently been on a good run of form at home, having lost just one of their seven most recent matches. They managed to defeat Monaco 2-0 on March 10 in the Europa League. In their last five matches, they have scored seven goals and conceded three.

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 3-2 Benfica 01/04/22

Sporting Braga latest away form

Sporting 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 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

Rangers latest home form

Rangers suffered a 2-1 defeat against Celtic in their last home game in the league. However, they have been on a good run of form at home. In their five most recent matches, they have won two, drawn two and lost one, scoring nine goals and conceding six in the process.

Rangers 2-2 Borussia Dortmund 24/02/22

Rangers 2-2 Motherwell 27/02/22

Rangers 1-0 Aberdeen 05/03/22

Rangers 3-0 Red Star Belgrade 10/03/22

Rangers 1-2 Celtic 03/04/22

Rangers latest away form

Rangers have recently been on a good run of form on the road, having lost just one of their seven most recent matches. They lost 2-1 to Red Star Belgrade on March 17 in ther Europa League. In their last five matches, they have scored eight goals and conceded four.

Dundee United 1-1 Rangers 20/02/22

St. Johnstone 0-1 Rangers 02/03/22

Dundee 0-3 Rangers 13/03/22

Red Star Belgrade 2-1 Rangers 17/03/22

Dundee 1-2 Rangers 20/03/22

Sporting Braga news

Sporting Braga will be without the services of mid duo of Roger Fernandes and Nono Sequeira due to muscle injuries and are likely to return early in April.

Andre Horta, Abel Ruiz and Martins Gomes will line up as the front three in a 4-3-3 formation, with Matheus Lima between the sticks.

Rangers news

Ianis Hagi is set to miss out for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury, while Alfredo Morelos (thigh) and Nnamdi Ofoborh (heart problems) will also be absent.

Lining up in a 4-3-3 formation, Joe Aribo, Fashion Sakala and Ryan Kent are set to line up as the front three.

Prediction and Odds

Sporting Braga enter the contest off the back of an impressive 3-2 victory over Benfica, which would have provided them with much confidence.

Meanwhile, Rangers will know the importance of a positive result here, and lining up in a similar formation we expect the sides to match strength, hence a draw.

Odds: 1 2.20 X 2.05 2 2.35