Our prediction for this Taca de Portugal match:
Benfica
Match Time & Date:
10/01/2024
21:45
Prediction: 2-1
Braga
Sparkles will be flying when Benfica and Braga square off against each other at Estadio da Luz in the last 16 of the Taca de Portugal. The Eagles are on a five-game winning run in all competitions and their performance in a 3-0 win over Arouca is surely fuelling fans with optimism ahead of Wednesday’s encounter. Even though all Juan Bernat, David Neres, Alexander Bah, and Casper Tengstedt miss out with injuries, home win should be considered as the capital club have been in a fine form of late.
The visitors, on the other hand, dropped two points in a 1-1 draw with Vitoria Guimaraes at the weekend. In each of their last two meetings in Lisbon Benfica defeated Braga and we predict that history is going to repeat itself. As for the away team, both Sikou Niakate and Simon Banza are on international duty, whilst experienced forward Pizzi should be recalled to the starting XI.
Highlighted Player (Ricardo Horta):
Ricardo Horta is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Sporting Braga in Primeira Liga. Born in Sobreda, Portugal, on September 15, 1994, Ricardo Horta spent his youth career at Ginasio Corroios, Benfica, and Vitoria Setubal.
The 173-cm-tall winger continued playing for Setubal at the senior level, but he moved to Malaga in the summer of 2014, signing a five-year deal with the La Liga outfit. Ricardo Horta scored only one goal in 48 appearances for los Boquerones in the Spanish top flight before signing a loan deal with Braga. In July 2017, he signed a permanent contract with the Minhotos.
Ricardo Horta made his Primeira Liga debut against Rio Ave back in April 2013, during his spell with Vitoria Setubal. His primary position is left winger, but he is capable of producing good performances as a right winger as well. He made his Portugal debut in a 1-0 loss to Albania in the Euro 2016 qualifiers.
Highlighted Team (Benfica):
Member of the ‘Big Three’ clubs in Portugal alongside FC Porto and CP Sporting, Sport Lisboa e Benfica are the football club that has never been relegated from the Primeira Liga. The club is nicknamed Aguias because of the Eagle symbol atop the club’s crest. Benfica play their home games at the Estadio da Luz which replaced the original one in 2003 and which boasts the capacity of more than 64,000. Arguably the most successful club in Portugal, Benfica have won a record of 35 Primeira Liga titles and also a record 25 Taca de Liga and 7 Taca da Liga trophies.
Two-time European Cup winners, Benfica are the club known for their diligent work with youth players, many of which went on to make great careers abroad. The most prominent players to wear a Benfica shirt are legendary Eusebio, Manuel Bento, Jorge Tavares and most recently Javier Saviola, Nuno Gomes, David Luiz and Angel Di Maria.
Sparta Prague 
Atletico Madrid 
Barcelona 
Brest
Bayer Leverkusen 
Salzburg 
Bayern Munich 
PSG
Inter 
Leipzig 
Man City 
Feyenoord 
