Our prediction for this Portugal Primeira Liga match:
Buoyed by the Europa League win over Feyenoord, Braga will be aiming to return to winning ways in Primeira Liga when they take on Sunday evening. The Reds are on a four-game winless run in the national championship, but they are still seen as hot favourites to beat Nacional in front of home fans. Spanish forward Fran Navarro is widely expected to return to the starting XI after scoring the winner as a substitute against Feyenoord, while defender Jonatas Noro remains in the recovery room.
Os Albos, on the other hand, failed to impress in back-to-back defeats to Porto and Arouca and given Braga’s need for points, we predict that the visitors will return home with their hands empty. In their last meeting at Estadio Municipal de Braga, the hosts emerged triumphant thanks to Gorby’s goal. Adding to their woes, midfielder Matheus Dias is banned for the visiting team.
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.