Braga
- Braga are 4th in the Primeira Liga table with 52 points from 28 matches.
- Braga's 2-1 Primeira Liga win is part of a run of two wins, one loss and two draws for the hosts in the last five meetings.
- Vicens has implemented a possession-first philosophy, but his team can shape-shift and play in a myriad of different ways.
- Braga’s players are well drilled to play positional triangles with the ball and they can change the tempo of a game in an instant, making them very hard to break down and extremely dangerous on the break.
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Home stats:
- Home record in the Primeira Liga is eight wins, three draws and three defeats in 14 games.
- Average of 2.07 goals scored per game and 0.93 goals conceded per game.
Famalicao
- Famalicao are just one place and five points behind in 5th with 47 points from 29 games.
- Famalicao have a similar approach in terms of having a strong identity and they like to remain compact and defend in a mid-block, getting numbers behind the ball and attempting to spring wide counters when they win the ball.
- The team is well structured around a solid defensive midfield pivot, while Sorriso’s pace in the front line is also key to how Hugo Oliveira sets up his side.
- Famalicao, meanwhile, have won five, drawn five and lost four of their 14 Primeira Liga away games this term, scoring 0.86 goals per match and conceding 1.07 per away game.
Head-to-Head
Braga have won two of the last five head-to-head matches, Famalicao have won once and two have been drawn.
Key Players
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Braga:
- Their talisman Rodrigo Zalazar is the greatest example of the team’s style of play, running at defenders, playing short or long and scoring goals.
- The Uruguayan has bagged 15 goals in 24 Primeira Liga matches.
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Famalicao:
- The team is well structured around a solid defensive midfield pivot, while Sorriso’s pace in the front line is also key to how Hugo Oliveira sets up his side.
Betting Insights
The odds for a Braga win are too short at 1.89 , but they are better for over 2.5 goals at 1.98 and both teams not to score at 1.93 .
Prediction
Oliveira’s pragmatic style has kept his side in the European mix and difficult to crack, so I’m leaning towards an away win here, although Braga’s home form is good enough to suggest they can break through.
