📏 Form Guide

Braga

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Braga won’t want a repeat of their last result here after the 2-1 Primeira Liga loss in their previous game against Casa Pia.

In that match, Braga had 59% possession and 21 attempts on goal with 6 on target. The only player to score for Braga was Rodrigo Zalazar (20'). On the other side, Casa Pia had 5 attempts on goal with 3 of them on target. Fahem Benaissa-Yahia (45') and Jérémy Livolant (79') scored for Casa Pia.

It has been a rare occasion in recent times that Braga haven’t conceded. It will be a concern for them that Braga have failed to prevent opponents from scoring in 5 of their previous 6 clashes, giving up 6 goals during that time.

Heading into this fixture, Braga are unbeaten in their previous 7 league matches at home.

Benfica

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In their previous fixture, Benfica drew 1-1 in the Primeira Liga tie with Sporting Lisbon.

In that game, Benfica managed 61% possession and 14 attempts at goal with 1 of them on target. The scorer for Benfica was Kerem Aktürkoğlu (63'). At the other end, Sporting CP got 7 attempts at goal with 4 of them on target. Trincão (4') was the scorer for Sporting Lisbon.

In a total of 5 out of the previous 6 games featuring Benfica, a minimum of three goals have gone in. The overall average number of goals per game during that time is 3.83, with the number of goals averaged by Benfica standing at 3. We shall soon find out whether or not that trend can be sustained in this game.

Going into this encounter, Benfica are undefeated in their last 7 away league matches.

↔️ Head to head

Checking out their prior head to head duels dating back to 01/04/2022, there is nothing to separate the two clubs with Braga winning 3 of those games, Benfica 3 and 0 being draws in normal time.

A total of 17 goals were shared by the two clubs in these games, with 9 of them from Os Arcebispos and 8 for Benfica. This gives an average number of goals per game equal to 2.83.

The previous league match between these sides was Primeira Liga match day 17 on 04/01/2025 when it ended Benfica 1-2 Braga.

That time, Benfica had 59% possession and 20 attempts on goal with 5 on target. Their only player on the scoresheet was Arthur Cabral (77').

At the other end, Braga got 6 shots on goal with 2 of them on target. Fran Navarro (17') and Robson Bambu (40') scored.

The match was refereed by Luis Godinho.

📋 Team News: Braga

It’s a low absenteeism rate, with just the sole fitness concern for the Braga manager Carlos Carvalhal to be concerned about thanks to an almost full-strength squad. Jonatás Noro (Achilles tendon rupture) is sidelined.

In our view, Os Arcebispos may well use the 4-2-3-1 system and select Lukas Hornicek, Victor Gomez, Sikou Niakate, Paulo Oliveira, Francisco Chissumba, Joao Moutinho, Uros Racic, Roger Fernandes, Rodrigo Zalazar, Ricardo Horta and Fran Navarro.

🗞️ Team News: Benfica

Benfica manager Bruno Lage has to choose from a squad that has some fitness concerns. Renato Sanches (Muscle injury), Manu Silva (Cruciate ligament tear) and Alexander Bah (Cruciate ligament tear) will miss out on this game.

We believe Benfica will likely elect for a 4-2-3-1 formation, starting Anatoliy Trubin, Tomas Araujo, Antonio Silva, Nicolas Otamendi, Alvaro Carreras, Florentino Luis, Leandro Barreiro, Kerem Akturkoglu, Orkun Kokcu, Andreas Schjelderup and Vangelis Pavlidis.

✨ Prediction

Our feeling is that Braga are capable enough to breach the defence of this Benfica outfit, although just one goal possibly won’t be as many as they will have scored against them.

Therefore, we think that it’s going to be a 1-2 win for Benfica by the conclusion of the game. Expecting it to be very competitive.

Lucas Pereira, 16:02 17/05/2025