Sporting Braga will be looking for a seventh win in a row across all competition when they host Union Berlin at the Estadio Braga Municipal in Group D of the Europa League on Thursday.
The visitors head into the contest seeking to pick up their first win of the season folliwing their opening-day defeat at the hands of Union Saint-Gilloise.
Braga could not have hoped for a better start to their quest for European glory as they claimed a 2-0 victory over Malmo in their Europa League Group D opening game on September 8.
Artur Jorge’s side have had an impressive run of form in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, where they are currently second in the league standings after picking up 16 points from a possible 18 this season.
Os Arcebispos head into Thursday’s contest off the back of claiming their sixth victory on the bounce as they defeated newly-promoted Rio Ave 3-2 when the sides met at the Estadio dos Arcos in Sunday’s league clash.
Meanwhile, Union Berlin moved to the top of the German Bundesliga standigs as they claimed a 1-0 victory away to Koln when the sides met last weekend.
Urs Fischer’s side are now one of just two sides yet to suffer defet in the Bundesliga this season after picking up four wins and two draws in their opening four matches of the 2022-23 campaign.
Union Berlin now turn their attention to the Europa League, where they kicked off their campaign with a 1-0 defeat against Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise in their Group D opener last week.
Fischer’s side head into the midweek encounter unbeaten in each of their last six competitive matches away from home, picking up five wins and one draw since a 2-1 defeat to RB Leipzig in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals back in April.
Sporting Braga vs Union Berlin head to head
These two teams have not previously met on any occasion and this will be their first meeting in the Europa League group stages.
Sporting Braga latest home form
Sporting Braga have recently been on a good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their 11 most recent matches. They managed to defeat Vitoria Guimaraes 1-0 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 13 goals and conceded five.
Sporting Braga 2-1 AFC Bournemouth 19/07/22
Sporting Braga 2-1 Celta Vigo 29/07/22
Sporting Braga 3-3 Sporting Lisbon 07/08/22
Sporting Braga 5-0 Maritimo 21/08/22
Sporting Braga 1-0 Vitoria Guimaraes 03/09/22
Sporting Braga latest away form
Sporting Braga have recently been on a good run of form on the road, having won each of their four most recent matches. They managed to defeat Rio Ave 3-2 in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 14 goals and conceded four.
Portimonense 2-0 Sporting Braga 23/07/22
Famalicao 0-3 Sporting Braga 12/08/22
Arouca 0-6 Sporting Lisbon 28/08/22
Malmo 0-2 Sporting Braga 08/09/22
Rio Ave 2-3 Sporting Braga 11/09/22
Union Berlin latest home form
Union Berlin lost 1-0 to Union Saint-Gilloise in their last home game in the Europa League. However, they have recently been on a good run of form at home, as they have been unbeaten in their previous 11 matches. In their last five matches, they have scored seven goals and conceded five.
Union Berlin 3-1 Hertha Berlin 06/08/22
Union Berlin 1-1 Hannover 96 09/08/22
Union Berlin 2-1 RB Leipzig 20/08/22
Union Berlin 1-1 bayern Munich 03/09/22
Union Berlin 0-1 Union Saint-Gilloise 08/09/22
Union Berlin latest away form
Union Berlin have recently been on a good run of form on the road, having been unbeaten in their five most recent matches. They managed to defeat FC Koln 1-0 in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 12 goals and conceded five.
Udinese 3-3 Union Berlin 16/07/22
Chemnitzer FC 1-2(E) Union Berlin 01/08/22
Mainz 0-0 Union Berlin 14/08/22
Schalke 04 1-6 Union Berlin 27/08/22
FC Cologne 0-1 Union Berlin 11/09/22
Sporting Braga news
Sporting Braga will have to make do without the services of centre-back Sikou Niakate, who is set to miss his third consecutive game through injury.
Vitinha and Simon Banza should spearhead the hosts’ attack once against, while Al Musrati, Medeiros and Andre Horta should be joined by Ricardo Horta in midfield.
Union Berlin news
Fischer will be unable to call upon the services of Sven Miche, who is currently suspended after picking up a straight red late in the group opener against Union Saint-Gilloise.
Union Berlin will be without Fabio Schneider and Danilho Doekhi, who are currently recuperating from knee and muscle injuries respectively.
Prediction and Odds
Sporting Braga will head into the contest with sky-high confidence, having won each of their last six matches across all competitions.
They are unbeaten at the Estadio Braga Municipal since April and we predict they will utilise their home advantage and defeat their visitors to keep their fine run going.
Odds: 1 1.88 X 2.02 2 2.24
Probable outcomes
Sporting Braga 2-0 Union Berlin
Sporting Braga 2-1 Union Berlin
Sporting Braga 3-1 Union Berlin
Sporting Braga 3-2 Union Berlin
Sporting Braga 2-2 Union Berlin
