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Primeira Liga | Gameweek 23
Mar 15, 2021 at 8.15pm UK
Estadio Municipal 22 de Junho
Braga

Famalicao
2 - 2
Braga

Silva (18'), Tavares (87')
Figueiras (68'), Assuncao (70'), Dias (90+3')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Horta (36' pen.), Elmusrati (39')
Esgaio (17'), Rodrigues (85')

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

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

Braga will be looking to record a fifth consecutive league win on Monday night, when they travel to take on Famalicao, who sit bottom of the Primeira Liga table.

Carlos Carvalhal's men have enjoyed a strong run of form which has seen them rise up to second spot in the top flight, while the hosts will be looking for just a fifth league win of the season to lift them out of the drop zone.


Match preview

Braga head coach Carlos Carvalhal pictured in December 2020© Reuters

Famalicao suffered a heavy loss last time out, falling to a 3-0 away defeat at the hands of Boavista, who previously sat below them in the table.

Ricardo Mangas and Paulinho gave the hosts a two-goal lead, and Famalicao's job was made almost impossible when Manuel Ugarte was sent off with 15 minutes to go, before Sebastian Perez capped off a poor day for Fama with a goal in added time.

Since that defeat, manager Silas departed the club having taken charge of just six games, with Ivo Vieira coming in to attempt to save Famalicao from relegation.

That remains very possible, with his new side sitting just two points adrift of automatic safety, meaning a turn in results could quickly see them move out of the drop zone.

However, that turnaround does need to come soon, as Fama have won just one of their last eight league games, picking up a worrying tally of five points in that period.

While Vieira will be hoping to kickstart his Famalicao career with a victory on Monday to begin that run, he could not face many tougher tasks as his side welcome a Braga outfit in a strong run of form.

Braga's Francisco Moura celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates in November 2020© Reuters

Os Arcebispos come into this game having won their last four matches in league action, most recently cruising to a 3-0 home victory over Vitoria de Guimaraes.

An early Lucas Piazon finish meant Carvalhal's men were in the driving seat throughout the game, and goals from Abel Ruiz and Andraz Sporar sealed a comfortable victory for the hosts.

Before that, the Archbishops advanced to the Taca de Portugal final by beating Porto 3-2 in the away leg of their semi-final tie, having drawn the first leg 1-1.

Carvalhal's men led 3-0 after half an hour thanks to an Abel Ruiz brace and a Lucas Piazon goal, while goals from Moussa Marega and Sergio Oliveira made it tight, but the hosts could not find the equaliser and Braga went through with a 4-3 aggregate victory.

Os Arcebispos now sit in second place, one point ahead of third-placed Porto, with a win on Monday keeping them in the Champions League qualifying spot.

Famalicao Primeira Liga form:
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • L

Braga Primeira Liga form:
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W

Braga form (all competitions):
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • W


Team News

Braga's Paulinho celebrates scoring against Leicester City in the Europa League on November 26, 2020© Reuters

Famalicao will be without important midfielder Manuel Ugarte, after their January signing was shown a red card in the recent defeat to Boavista and will serve a suspension on Monday.

Their midfield could take another hit too, as captain Gustavo Assuncao was absent from the squad from the Boavista game, and he could remain out on Monday.

They will also remain without forward Leonardo Campana, who has been absent since January with a muscle injury.

Forward Alexandre Guedes is still in search of his first Famalicao goal after arriving on loan from Vitoria de Guimaraes in January, in the deal which saw Ruben Lameiras leave the club permanently.

Braga will remain without centre-back David Carmo, who has been absent for the last four games with an ankle fracture.

He is joined on the sidelines by Andre Castro, Iuri Medeiros and Francisco Moura, with all three players out of contention with injuries.

However, they will be boosted by the return of Cristian Borja, who served a suspension last time out for a red card shown in the cup victory over Porto.

That could see Carvalhal revert back to the system of three centre-backs, with Borja potentially joining Bruno Rodrigues and Vitor Tormena at the back.

Their attacking line will come into this game with plenty of confidence, with Abel Ruiz and Lucas Piazon netting a combined six goals in Braga's last three games.

Famalicao possible starting lineup:
Junior; Riccieli, Queiros, Babic; Figueiras, Kraev, Rodrigues, Lukovic, Vinagre; Guedes, Tavares

Braga possible starting lineup:
Matheus; Tormena, Rodrigues, Borja; Esgaio, Fransergio, Elmusrati, Galeno; Piazon, Ruiz, Horta


SM words green background

We say: Famalicao 1-3 Braga

While Famalicao could feel the boost so often brought about by a new manager, we do not think they have enough to avoid defeat in this game.

The Archbishops have looked formidable going forward recently, with Abel Ruiz and Lucas Piazon in rich veins of form, and that should seal a fairly routine win for Carlos Carvalhal's side.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Braga win with a probability of 49.23%. A draw had a probability of 26.1% and a win for Famalicao had a probability of 24.64%.

The most likely scoreline for a Braga win was 0-1 with a probability of 12.7%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 0-2 (9.47%) and 1-2 (9.2%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (12.34%), while for a Famalicao win it was 1-0 (8.28%). The actual scoreline of 2-2 was predicted with a 4.5% likelihood.


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Game History

How you voted: Famalicao vs Braga

Famalicao
10.1%
Draw
7.3%
Braga
82.6%
109
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sporting Lisbon29252284275777
2Benfica29224365234270
3Porto29185653233059
4Braga29185661402159
5Vitoria de GuimaraesGuimaraes29176645291657
6MoreirenseMoreirense29127103033-343
7AroucaArouca291341250391143
8FamalicaoFamalicao29811103136-535
9Casa Pia2988132941-1232
10SC FarenseFarense2987143841-331
11Rio AveRio Ave2951593137-630
12BoavistaBoavista2978143455-2129
13Estoril PraiaEstoril2985164350-729
14Gil Vicente2977153648-1228
15Estrela Amadora29610133145-1428
16PortimonensePortimonense2976163262-3027
17ChavesChaves2957172860-3222
18Vizela2949162860-3221


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