Our prediction for this Portugal Primeira Liga match:
All eyes will be on Estadio do Dragao when Porto and Benfica lock horn in the Primeira Liga derby. The Dragons are eager to stay in the title race, but Sunday’s game will be anything but a walk in the park for the Portuguese powerhouse. Brazil midfielder Galeno is pushing for a start after coming as a substitute in a slim 1-1 draw with Boavista, whereas both Mehdi Taremi and Zaidu Sanusi are on international duty.
The Reds, on the other hand, have a chance to overtake Porto in third place in the standings, but seeing that Sergio Conceicao’s men are tough to beat at home, we predict that the two sides are going to share the spoils at Estadio do Dragao. Braga head coach Artur Jorge should have a full squad to choose from except for Sikou Niakate and Simon Banza, who are on international duty.
Highlighted Player (Toni Martinez):
Born in Barrio del Progreso, Spain, on June 30, 1997, Toni Martinez is a forward who plays for Primeira Liga side Famalicao. Martinez is a product of Real Murcia football school, but in 2013 he moved to Valencia youth academy.
After scoring two goals in 16 appearances for Valencia B, the Spaniard signed a deal with West Ham United in April 2016 for a fee of around £2.4 million. However, he did not see any game action in the Premier League with the Hammers as he was immediately sent on loan to Oxford United.
Toni Martinez played for the likes of Real Valladolid, Rayo Majadahonda, and Lugo on loan as well before signing a three-year deal with Famalicao in the summer of 2019. He made his debut with the Azuis e Brancos on August 3, 2019, in a 2-0 home defeat to Covilha in the Taca da Portugal. Toni Martinez has two caps with the Spain U19 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.