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

An all-Minho clash takes place this Saturday at Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas, where Moreirense play host to Braga as both sides chase a continental finish.

The two teams, however, remain far apart in that ambition, with the Archbishops sitting fourth in the Primeira Liga table, 11 points clear of the eighth-placed Green and Whites, who also trail fifth-placed Famalicao by 10 points.

Match preview

Braga’s position in fourth place feels precarious due to a faltering recent run, as they are just a single point above fifth-placed Famalicao, albeit with a game in hand following the postponement of their matchday 26 fixture against Casa Pia.

Carles Vicens’s men enter this weekend’s clash after failing to win consecutive league outings, beginning with a 2-2 draw against defending champions Sporting Lisbon before suffering a 2-1 defeat to leaders Porto prior to the international break.

In an encounter decided after the interval, Rodrigo Zalazar’s penalty opener proved insufficient for the Archbishops, who conceded a late winner from Seko Fofana, handing the Dragons a hard-fought victory.

As a result, Braga have now allowed exactly two goals in three of their last four matches, with the sole exception being an emphatic home win over Ferencvaros that secured their progression to the Europa League quarter-finals.

That said, the Archbishops have recorded victories in three of their last four league outings on the road (L1), providing confidence heading into this weekend’s clash, though the only setback in that sequence came against fellow Minho club Gil Vicente, serving as a cautionary note as Braga travel for another regional encounter.

Meanwhile, Moreirense’s concerns stem from a wretched run in recent weeks, having won just two of their last 10 matches (D2, L6), with Vasco Botelho da Costa’s side failing to record victory in each of the most recent five of those outings.

Without a goal in consecutive fixtures for only the second time this season, the Moreira outfit suffered a 3-0 defeat at Porto before another setback in a 1-0 loss to Arouca just prior to the break.

Moreirense’s current struggles can largely be attributed to defensive frailties, having conceded in each of their last eight matches, a sequence that has yielded just one win, which is a sharp contrast to the Green and Whites’ previous five outings, where they recorded four clean sheets and three victories.

There has also been a notable decline in results on familiar ground for the Moreira club, who won each of their opening four home matches of the campaign but have managed only two victories in the last nine (D2, L5) while failing to win any of the most recent four.

History offers little encouragement either, as Moreirense have lost each of their last 12 competitive meetings with Braga, including a 2-1 defeat in the reverse fixture in November.

Moreirense Primeira Liga form:

Braga Primeira Liga form:

Braga form (all competitions):

Team News

Moreirense are dealing with several injury concerns, with defender Dinis Pinto and midfielder Vasco Sousa still nursing shoulder and leg issues, respectively.

Spanish left-back Alvaro Martinez and Brazilian forward Yan Maranhao are also recovering from muscle problems, ruling them out of this encounter.

Defender Leandro Santos and midfielder Alanzinho were both forced off in the defeat to Arouca, leaving the pair doubtful for Saturday’s clash.

Attacker Cedric Teguia is set to miss a fourth consecutive outing, while centre-back Michel, who has been sidelined since January, could remain unavailable once again.

As for Braga, defender Adrian Barisic continues to be ruled out through injury, while midfielder Vitor Carvalho is still managing a hip problem.

Zalazar sustained a muscle issue against Porto, which led to his withdrawal from the Uruguay squad, and he is expected to miss the trip to Moreirense.

However, Lukas Hornicek, Ricardo Horta and Florian Grillitsch appear to have returned from international duty unscathed and are likely to feature this weekend.

Moreirense possible starting lineup:

Ferreira; Travassos, Maracas, Batista, Kiko; Rodri, Stjepanovic, Assis; Landerson, Semedo, Bondoso

Braga possible starting lineup:

Hornicek; Lagerbielke, Niakate, Arrey-Mbi; Gomez, Gorby, G Martinez, Moutinho; Dorgeles, Horta; Victor

We say: Moreirense 1-2 Braga

Although both sides lost their previous outing, their recent trajectories have been contrasting, with Braga’s setbacks coming against the league’s top two.

Facing a struggling Moreirense outfit presents an opportunity to bounce back, and the visitors are backed to take maximum points, particularly given their dominance in this fixture.

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