Preview:Braga vs AVS - prediction, team news, lineups

Braga will aim to continue their explosive form as they play host to AVS on Sunday at Estadio Municipal de Braga for round three of the Primeira Liga.

The Archbishops enter this encounter fresh off an emphatic victory at Lincoln Red Imps on the continental front in midweek, so confidence will be high once again as they welcome their struggling visitors from Vila Conde.

Match preview

What was expected to be a tightly packed schedule for Braga, who have been shuttling between European and domestic commitments in recent weeks, has instead felt like a stroll in the park.

While it required an extra-time goal over two legs of their Europa League qualifier to edge out Levski Sofia, the Minho side have since found another gear, winning each of their next five matches across all competitions.

Thursday’s 4-0 victory at Lincoln in the first leg of their playoff round showed just how ruthless Os Arcebispos have become of late, particularly when the odds are tilted in their favour, with a relatively kind run of fixtures easing the load despite the congestion.

Even though they alternated their last two midweek continental outings with weekend league assignments, meetings with newly promoted Alverca and Tondela were never likely to halt Braga’s momentum, and so it proved.

Carlos Vicens’s men eased to 3-0 wins in both opening Primeira Liga games, extending their tally to 12 unanswered goals across four straight victories in all competitions, in each of which they took leads into the break.

With everything clicking into gear, this weekend’s fixture is one in which fans of the Archbishops might already be tempted to see the points as good as in the bag, given their flawless record against this opponent, having triumphed in both prior meetings.

Indeed, AVS were beaten 1-0 at home before falling 4-1 at Estadio Municipal de Braga in the reverse fixture last term, which was their maiden season in the top flight.

In 2024-25, the Vila Conde club spent much of the campaign rooted near the bottom before eventually finding their way to survival through the playoff route.

The struggles appear to have picked up again this term for AVS, who have now lost their opening two fixtures, going down 3-1 at Arouca before last weekend’s 2-0 home defeat against Casa Pia.

Rafael Barbosa’s early penalty miss at Estadio do CD Aves proved costly, as Jose Mota’s men conceded in both halves, with Korede Osundina breaking the deadlock before Duplexe Tchamba sealed the contest for the visitors.

This means AVS have failed to get through a single 45 minutes without losing in the new Primeira Liga campaign, and this leaves Mota scratching his head on how to get his side to last a full 90 in Braga without defeat.

Braga Primeira Liga form:

Braga form (all competitions):

AVS Primeira Liga form:

AVS form (all competitions):

Team News

Rodrigo Zalazar delivered a brilliant performance in midweek with a brace and an assist and should head into this one brimming with confidence.

Meanwhile, Paulo Oliveira, Bright Arrey-Mbi, Vitor Carvalho and Roger Fernandes were all rested in that contest and will bring fresh legs into the weekend.

Ricardo Horta was forced off against Lincoln on Thursday, but the forward will need to undergo a late fitness test to determine his availability.

AVS completed the signing of Diogo Spencer during the week, but Sunday’s encounter could come too soon for the defender.

Despite coming off the bench to grab the consolation against Arouca on the opening day, Nene was left out of the lineup last time out, although Mota may be weighing up the option of starting the experienced striker this time.

Braga possible starting lineup:

Hornicek; Arrey-Mbi, Oliveira, Carvalho; Lelo, Zalazar, Gorby, Fernandes; Horta, Dorgeles; Víctor

AVS possible starting lineup:

Simao; Kiki, Santos, Devenish, Molina; Lima, Grau, Algobia; Akinsola, Nene, Barbosa

We say: Braga 2-0 AVS

With progress to the Europa League group stage virtually wrapped up, Braga can now shift full focus to this weekend’s encounter, and Vicens’s men look well set to claim all three points as they push to challenge the traditional big three for the title this season.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.