Our prediction for this Champions League match:
All eyes will be on Estadio Municipal de Braga when Braga and Real Madrid go head to head in a highly-anticipated Champions League game. The Reds came from two goals behind to beat Union Berlin in their second group game, but they will have a mountain to climb against the CL title hopefuls. Both Ricardo Horta and Victor Gomez are out of contention with injuries, while there are no suspended players in the home team.
Los Blancos, on the other hand, aim to keep their 100% record in Group C intact. Real Madrid proved their worth in a 3-2 win over Napoli and seeing that Carlo Ancelotti can count on key players for Tuesday’s clash, away win should be considered. Nacho is back from the domestic ban, while both Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois remain in the recovery room. Veteran midfielder Luka Modric should be recalled to the starting XI after coming as a substitute in a 1-1 draw with Sevilla on Saturday.
Highlighted Player (Luka Modric):
Luka Modric is regarded as one of the best central midfielders in world football. The Croatian ace is a product of Dinamo Zagreb’s youth school and it has to be noted that he played 94 league games for the Modri between 2003 and 2008. In 2008 he signed a six-year deal with Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £16.5 million.
Luka made his Tottenham debut on 16 August, 2008 in a 2-1 loss to Middlesbrough at Riverside Stadium. The Croatian star scored only 13 goals in 127 league appearances for the Spurs, but he is well known for his brilliant passing. In 2012 he signed for Real Madrid for a fee of £30 million and he made his debut against Barcelona in the 2012 Spanish Super Cup, return leg.
Modric quickly established himself as a first-team regular and, no doubt, he helped the capital club win two Champions League trophies (2013/2014, 2015/2016). You should bear in mind that he was named Croatian Footballer of the Year in 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2014.
Highlighted Team (Braga):
Braga are a Portuguese club that have always been in the shadow of Primeira Liga giants Porto, Benfica and Sporting. Os Minhotos were founded on 19 January, 1921 and they originally played in green and white kits. After the World War II they changed their kits to red and they have been wearing red shirts and white shorts ever since.
Braga play their home games at Estadio Municipal de Braga, the stadium that was opened in December, 2003. Os Minhotos have yet to win the Primeira Liga title, but they finished the 2009/2010 campaign in second position in the standings, just five points behind champions Benfica.
In 2011 Braga participated in the Europa League final, but fellow Portuguese outfit Porto proved to be a big catch for Os Minhotos. Anyhow, that is regarded as the club’s biggest success. Vitoria de Guimaraes are considered Braga’s bitter rivals and the two teams face each other in the Minho derby.