Our prediction for this Portugal Primeira Liga match:
Sporting
Match Time & Date:
11/02/2024
12:00 PM
Prediction: 2-1
Braga
All eyes will be on Estadio Jose Alvalade when Sporting CP and Braga take on each other in the Primeira Liga round 21. The Lions have been scoring goals for fun of late and they are likely to stick to their attacking style of play. Japan international Hidemasa Morita is pushing for a recall to the starting XI, both Jerry St. Juste and Ivan Fresneda continue to miss out with injuries.
The Reds, on the other hand, aim to build on a hard-fought 1-0 win over Moreirense, but given Sporting’s 100% record, we predict that the visitors are going to return to Braga empty-handed. Defender Sikou Niakate is back from international duty, while forward Simon Banza is still representing DR Congo at the Africa Cup of Nations. Braga head coach Artur Jorge has no fresh injury worries ahead of the trip to Lisbon.
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 (Sporting):
When it comes to official club members, Portugal giants Sporting Lisbon are the sixth club in the world. Commonly referred to as Leoes which is Portuguese for Lions, Sporting Lisbon were founded in 1906 and are one of the founders of the Primeira Liga.
Sporting’s main rivals are Benfica, with both teams contesting the Lisbon Derby, one of the most fierce ones in Europe. Lions play their games at Estadio Jose Alvelade in front of 50,000 people and are the third most successful club in the country with 46 titles in Portuguese competitions and a title in the European Cup Winner’s Cup from 1963-64.
During this time that is also known as the club’s golden years, Sporting Lisbon won the majority of their 18 Primeira Liga titles in total. Sporting Lisbon boasts the quality football youth academy system which has yielded world-class footballers such as Paulo Furte, Simao Sabrosa, Nani and Ballon d’Or winners Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo.
