Preview: Braga vs. Sporting Lisbon - prediction, team news, lineups

In a repeat of July's Supertaca Final, Braga and Sporting Lisbon go toe-to-toe at the Estadio Municipal de Braga on Saturday.

Braga will look to exact revenge on the visitors, who came out victorious in that encounter to clinch their ninth Super Cup title.

Match preview

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Braga quickly moved on from their Super Cup heartbreak as they claimed a 2-0 victory over Maritimo last time out to get their Primeira Liga campaign off to a flying start.

In an action-packed contest at the Estadio dos Barreiros, second-half goals from Raul Silva and Ricardo Horta were enough to condemn the hosts to a second straight domestic defeat.

Braga, who are yet to taste league success, will look to mount a proper title charge this season and go one step better than their 2010 run, where they finished runners-up to Benfica.

Meanwhile, having ended their two-decade trophy drought in the Primeira Liga last season, defending their crown will be the goal for Sporting Lisbon this year.

After a solid pre-season run which saw them pick up three wins and one draw from four games, Sporting Lisbon claimed their first piece of silverware courtesy of a 2-1 win over Saturday's hosts in the Supertaca final on July 31.

That performance was backed up by another show of class as Ruben Amorim's side cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory over newly promoted Vizela last time out.

Portuguese midfielder Pedro Goncalves picked up where he left off last season, scoring twice to put Leoes in the driver's seat before Paulinho wrapped things up in the 74th minute.

Sporting Lisbon will feel confident heading into Saturday's encounter with 30 victories and five draws from their last 52 encounters with the hosts.

Team News

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Carlos Carvalhal will be unable to call upon the services of defender Francisco Mora and midfielder Iuri Medeiros, who have both been sidelined with knee injuries.

Twenty-two-year-old defender David Carmo is also on the club's injury table, having sustained a fractured ankle in February's Taca de Portugal clash with Porto.

Having registered five goals in pre-season, Ricardo Horta maintained his fine form in front of goal by adding to the scoreline to double Os Arcebispos' lead last time and the 26-year-old will be one to look out for on Saturday.

Sporting Lisbon will be without young full-back Nuno Mendes, who missed the opening game against Vizela through a leg injury.

Pedro Porro will also sit out the game as he continues to recover from a knee injury which has kept him out of the Leoes' last four outings.

Braga possible starting lineup:

Matheus; Sequeira, Tormena, Pablo, Esgaio; Fransergio, Castro, Al Musrati, Piazon; Horta, Gonzalez

Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:

Adan; Feddal, Coates, Inacio; Vinagre, Braganca, Palhinha, Esgaio; Goncalves, Cabral; Paulinho

We say: Braga 1-2 Sporting Lisbon

Braga and Sporting Lisbon face off in what is the first high-profile game of the new season and we expect a thrilling and riveting contest. Sporting Lisbon head into the game in fine form, having picked up two wins from as many games and we predict they will carry on with this momentum and claim a narrow win.