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

Braga will look to begin their 2025–26 Primeira Liga campaign on the right foot when they welcome newly promoted Tondela to the Estadio Municipal de Braga this weekend.

The Archbishops once again played second fiddle to the traditional big three last season and will be aiming to mount a stronger challenge this time around, while the visitors return to the top flight after three campaigns in Liga Portugal 2.

Match preview

In the Primeira Liga, where the top spots often feel reserved for Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Benfica, Braga have only managed to disrupt the order twice in the past eight campaigns.

Last term’s fourth-placed finish was another case of falling just short, and the Archbishops had only themselves to blame after failing to win any of their final four matches (D3, 1L), which saw them surrender third spot to Porto in the run-in.

Carlos Carvalhal stepped down as manager afterwards, with Braga appointing Carlos Vicens, who has made a strong impression in his short spell so far.

The Spanish coach led the side to a perfect five wins from five in pre-season friendlies, while Braga have also looked sharp in their Europa League qualifiers.

After edging past Bulgarian side Levski Sofia with an extra-time victory to win 1-0 on aggregate in the second qualifying round, the Archbishops took control of their tie against CFR Cluj thanks to a 2-1 success in Romania earlier this week.

Before the return leg next week, Braga will be looking to put on a show for the home fans in their league opener, and confidence should be high with the game coming against a side they have beaten in each of their last four meetings.

Tondela have lost both legs in their last two top-flight campaigns against Braga, though this will be their first encounter since the 2021-22 season, which ended in relegation for the Gold and Greens.

The club finally earned their way back into the Primeira Liga by finishing top of Liga Portugal 2 last season under Luis Pinto, but the 36-year-old has since departed for Vitoria de Guimaraes, with Ivo Vieira taking over in July.

Vieira has enjoyed a positive start to life at the helm, guiding his side to three wins and a draw in four pre-season outings, so they arrive with some momentum behind them.

However, the 49-year-old manager has admitted that the squad remains a work in progress, so taking even a point from Braga would be considered a significant result.

Braga form (all competitions):

Tondela form (all competitions):

Team News

Team News text here

Braga possible starting lineup:

Hornícek; Lelo, Oliveira, Lagerbielke, Gomez; Zalazar, Gorby, Carvalho; Horta, Víctor, Dorgeles

Tondela possible starting lineup:

Fontes; Maviram, Cesco, Afonso, Bebeto; Tavares, Cicero, Cunha; Rodrigues, Miro, Maranhao

We say: Braga 2-0 Tondela

Despite needing to manage their schedule ahead of the Europa League second leg, Braga remain firm favourites, and with expectations higher than ever, a win on home soil against newly promoted opponents would be the ideal way to get things underway.

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