Portuguese top-flight side Braga will continue their preparations for the 2022-23 campaign with a home encounter against Championship outfit Middlesbrough on Friday.
The hosts came out on top in a five-goal thriller in their opening pre-season game against Arouca, while the visitors have already played twice this month, beating non-league duo Bishop Auckland and York City.
Match preview
© Reuters
For the fourth time in five seasons, Braga had to settle for a fourth-placed finish in the Primeira Liga behind Portuguese giants Porto, Sporting Lisbon and Benfica.
The Archbishops were unable to retain their Taca de Portugal crown as they were eliminated in the round of 16, while they were also knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Europa League to losing finalists Rangers.
Carlos Carvalhal is yet to make waves in the transfer market this summer, with Victor Gomez and Sikou Niakate the only two names to arrive on loan, while they have lost key defender David Carmo to rivals Porto.
In a bid to improve on last season and close in on Portugal's big three teams, Carvalhal will be keen to bolster his squad with further additions before their challenging opening league fixture at home to Sporting on August 7.
Braga kicked off their pre-season preparations with a 3-2 victory against Arouca on Tuesday, and after Friday's clash with Middlesbrough they are scheduled to face Bournemouth, Nice, Portimonense and Celta Vigo later this month.
© Reuters
After finishing seventh in the Championship last season and five points behind the playoffs, Chris Wilder is now tasked with guiding Middlesbrough to the Premier League for the first time since 2016-17.
Boro are yet to make a real statement in the transfer market, but they have added Liam Roberts, Darragh Lenihan and Ryan Giles to their ranks, the latter arriving from Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan.
All three players have received minutes in their opening two pre-season friendlies, with Wilder's men beating Bishop Auckland 5-0 before securing a 3-2 win against York City last week.
Middlesbrough have since made the trip to Portugal where they are taking part in some warm-weather training ahead of their clash with Braga, and they are scheduled to return to England at the beginning of next week for friendlies against Morecambe and Marseille.
While Wilder will be keen to see some fresh faces arrive at the club in the next couple of weeks, he will now be focused on getting his squad in shape before their season opener against West Bromwich Albion at the Riverside Stadium.
- W
- W
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Braga boss Carvalhal used 25 players in their opening pre-season fixture on Tuesday and he is expected to hand more minutes to the majority of his squad against Middlesbrough.
Mario Gonzalez came off the bench to score twice in the win over Arouca and he will be hoping to start this time around, as will fellow forward Vitinha who was also on the scoresheet last time out.
Captain and key playmaker Ricardo Horta, who recorded 23 goals and 10 assists in 49 games last season, is set to feature along with the likes of Al Musrati, Paulo Oliveira and Iuri Medeiros.
As for Middlesbrough, Wilder has deployed different starting lineups in each half of their first two pre-season matches and he may decide to adopt the same approach on Friday.
Djed Spence will not be involved amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur, but the likes of Marcus Tavernier, Paddy McNair, Dael Fry and Riley McGree are all set to feature again.
Versatile midfielder Matt Crooks, who was the club's top scorer last season with 11 goals, could be handed another start behind forward Josh Coburn.
Braga possible starting lineup:
Sa; Niakate, Oliveira, Tormena; Gomez, Al Musrati, Castro, Moura; R. Horta; Vitinha, Ruiz
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Roberts; Lenihan, McNair, Fry; Dijksteel, Howson, McGree, Tavernier, Giles; Crooks; Coburn
We say: Braga 2-1 Middlesbrough
Both teams will be keen to follow up their earlier wins in pre-season and build momentum heading towards their opening fixtures of the new campaign.
While Middlesbrough have the potential to cause problems in the final third, we can see Braga claiming a narrow victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
