MX23RW : Friday, December 13 04:27:19| >> :120:70220:70220:
[monks data]
Braga
Primeira Liga | Gameweek 34
May 18, 2024 at 8.30pm UK
Estadio Municipal de Braga
Porto

Braga
0 - 1
Porto


Gomez (8'), Oliveira (13'), Borja (79')
Gomez (12')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Galeno (84')
Conceicao (31')

Preview: Braga vs. Porto - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Primeira Liga clash between Braga and Porto, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

The Estadio Municipal plays host to a tense final matchday in the Primeira Liga as Braga and Porto go head to head in a winner-takes-all clash for the Europa League spot.

Os Arcebispos are currently fourth in the league standings and head into this weekend's season finale just one point below the visitors, who are set for their lowest league finish since the 2015-16 campaign.


Match preview

Braga's Abel Ruiz celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on January 23, 2024© Reuters

Braga picked up three huge points in their late push for a top-three finish as they secured a 3-2 victory over Vitoria de Guimaraes in a pulsating affair at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques last Saturday.

Bruma and Ricardo Horta scored in either half to cancel out Bruno Gaspar's 10th-minute opener and after Ricardo Mangas netted in the 80th minute to draw Guimaraes level, substitute Rony Lopes struck in the third minute of stoppage time to hand the visitors a dramatic victory.

Frederico Carmo's men have now picked up four wins in their last five matches — with a 3-1 defeat against Benfica on April 27 being the exception — a run which has guaranteed their spot in Europe next season.

Braga will now close out the season at the Estadio Braga Municpal, where they have been rock-solid this season and are unbeaten in eight of their nine matches, picking up six wins and two draws since the turn of the year.

Os Arcebispos have picked up 68 points from their 33 Primeira Liga matches so far to sit fourth in the league table, eight points above fifth-placed Vitoria de Guimaraes and just one point behind Porto.

While victory on Saturday will see Braga finish in the Europa League qualification spot, they have failed to get the better of Porto in each of their last four meetings and have won just five of their last 20 encounters since January 2009.

Sergio Conceicao's ensured that they remained in pole position heading into the season finale as they fought back from behind to secure a vital 2-1 victory over 10-man Boavista at the Estadio do Dragao last Sunday.

In a game where Pedro Malheiro received his marching orders, Bruno Lourenco broke the deadlock right on the hour mark to put Boavista in front but Ze Pedro and Mehdi Taremi netted in the final nine minutes to turn the tie on its head in dramatic fashion.

The Dragoes have now gone six back-to-back matches without defeat across all competitions, picking up four wins and two draws since suffering a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Vitoria de Guimaraes on April 7.

This solid late-season form has kept Porto on course to finish third in the league — their lowest position since 2020-21 — and has also seen them reach the final of the Taca de Portugal, where they will lock horns with rivals Sporting Lisbon on May 26.

Braga Primeira Liga form:

Porto Primeira Liga form:


Porto form (all competitions):


Team News

FC Porto's Evanilson celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on April 28, 2024© Reuters

Off the back of an injury-free game against Vitoria de Guimaraes, Braga head into the weekend with a clean bill of health and no suspension concerns, giving Carmo the luxury of a full house at his disposal.

Alvaro Djalo missed the game against Guimaraes after picking up a red card against Casa Pia on May 5 but the Spanish forward should return to the matchday squad.

Horta turned in an impressive individual display last time out and the 29-year-old, who now has 13 goal involvements in the league this season, will be one to keep an eye on.

Porto, on the other hand, will take to the pitch without the services of Nigerian full-back Zaidu Sanusi, who has been sidelined since suffering an ACL injury in February.

Fellow defender Ivan Marcano is also ruled out through an ACL injury while the experienced Pepe is set to sit out his fourth consecutive game due to a muscle problem.

Andre Franco, Antonio Martinez, Ivan Jaime, and defender Jorge Sanchez will also play no part in Saturday's season finale as they have all been ruled out due to personal reasons.


Braga possible starting lineup:
Lima, Gomez, Fonte, Niakate, Borja; Moutinho, Zalazar; Horta, Pizzi, Bruma; Ruiz

Porto possible starting lineup:
Costa; Fernandes, Pedro, Otavio, Wendell, Varela, Gonzalez; Conceicao, Pepe, Galeno; Evanilson


SM words green background

We say: Braga 2-2 Porto

In what is a season-defining fixture, we expect Braga and Porto to go all out in search of the win as they look to secure a top-three finish. However, we predict that both sides will cancel each other's efforts in a high-scoring stalemate.



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




ID:543788:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect11913:
Written by
Joshua Ojele

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Braga vs Porto

Braga
31.8%
Draw
27.3%
Porto
40.9%
44
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Porto's Alan Varela reacts in October 2023
Read Next:
Liverpool 'scouting midfielder at rival club of Sporting's Amorim'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Rams
@
49ers
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sporting Lisbon1311024083233
2Benfica1210113172431
3Porto1310123192231
4Santa ClaraSanta Clara139041612427
5Braga137332213924
6Vitoria de GuimaraesGuimaraes136341612421
7MoreirenseMoreirense136251918120
8FamalicaoFamalicao134631412218
9Rio AveRio Ave134361323-1015
10Casa Pia133551117-614
11Estoril PraiaEstoril133551219-714
12Gil Vicente133461624-813
13Estrela Amadora133371222-1012
14BoavistaBoavista13256816-811
15AVS132561021-1111
16Nacional12237717-109
17SC FarenseFarense13238719-129
18AroucaArouca13229723-168


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!