Our prediction for this Portugal Primeira Liga match:
Buoyed by a hard-fought 2-1 win over Farense, Braga will be looking to give fans yet another reason for celebration when the take on Belenenses on Matchday 26. Braga are eyeing a place in the Champions League, and we are positive that they will go all guns blazing at O Belem. Midfielder Fransergio returns from suspension for the hosts, while Slovenia attacker Sporar is pushing for a start after scoring the winner at the weekend.
Belenenses, on the other hand, failed to impress in a 2-0 loss to Boavista, which is yet another reason why we are tempted to put our money on the home team. Goalkeeper Stanislav Kritsyuk returns from suspension for the visitors, but that is unlikely to help them shock Braga on Matchday 26. In the first half of the season Belenenses defeated Braga 2-1, meaning that the hosts are hungry for revenge.
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 (Belenenses):
Founded on September 23, 1919, Belenenses are a Portuguese club that host their rivals at Estado do Restelo. The stadium can hold up to 19,856 spectators and it was built in 1956. O Belem play home games in blue shirts and white shorts and white is the dominant colour of their away kit.
By beating the likes of IFK Goteborg and Rheindorf Altach Belenenses booked their place in the Europa League group stages in the 2015/2016 season. Despite defeating Swiss side Basel in their group, the Portuguese club eventually finished the process in the last position in the standings.
The Estado do Restelo outfit did well to win the Primeira Liga trophy in the 1945/1946 season, with the team finishing the season only one point clear of second-placed Benfica. Speaking of the Portuguese Cup, Belenenses clinched their third Taca de Portugal trophy in the 1988/1989 season. Vitor Godinho is the player with most appearances for the club (272).