Preview: SC Farense vs. Braga - prediction, team news, lineups

Braga travel to the Algarve to face newly-promoted SC Farense in the Primeira Liga on Saturday night.

The visitors have made a fantastic start on two fronts and kept their momentum going despite missing some key players last week.

Match preview

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Braga were put in the peculiar position of having to play a top-flight match during the international break last Saturday.

Their game versus Moreirense was rescheduled in order to give them an optimal chance of qualifying for the group stages of the Champions League against Panathinaikos at the end of August.

It paid off as Braga made it through for their first appearance in the group stage proper in a decade.

The downside was that the window given for the Moreirense game to replayed was while some of their main players would be away on international duty.

Without arguably their two finest attacking assets in Ricardo Horta and Abel Ruiz, Braga still took the lead but would go in at half time 2-1 down.

Things appeared to have got worse when Joao Moutinho was given a straight red by the on-field referee.

However, VAR overturned the decision, as Braga kept their full complement and went on to score 82nd and 97th minute goals to dramatically turn the tables again.

The excellent comeback extended a fine run which has seen Braga lose just twice in their last 16 Primeira Liga encounters, dating back to late February.

Playing before most of the other sides near the top means Braga could jump into the top two at least with a win.

The 3-2 win over Moreirense also means they have scored 12 goals in their four away games so far this season.

That is not good news for a Farense side who have been hit-and-miss on their return to the top flight.

An opening day 3-0 defeat here to Casa Pia was a big low point, but they were unfortunate to lose so narrowly at Porto the following week.

A 5-0 thrashing of struggling Chaves saw spirits rise again, but they were subsequently dominated by Famalicao last week and were lucky to only lose 1-0.

After eight wins from eight to confirm promotion from the second tier at the end of last season, Jose Mota's side are finding it difficult to adjust at this level, despite that thumping win over Chaves.

Braga will provide a tough test, but the Casa Pia defeat remains their only loss at home in 16 matches.

Team News

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Farense will be without Zach Muscat after he was sent off in their 1-0 defeat at Famalicao before the international break.

Artur Jorge is expected to deputise for the Maltese international, who still played in his nation's 2-0 defeat to North Macedonia on Tuesday.

Another option may have been to bring Igor Rossi in for his debut after his signing from Ittihad Kalba, but the Brazilian is yet to feature in a matchday squad since his arrival.

Braga will welcome Horta, Ruiz and Serdar Saatci back to the matchday squad after the trio were away on international duty last week.

Midfielder Al Musrati made his return from injury earlier than expected, and it was his goal off the bench which clinched the win at Moreirense.

The Libyan will now battle with Vitor Carvalho for a starting spot in midfield alongside Pizzi and Andre Horta.

SC Farense possible starting lineup:

Ricardo Velho; Pastor, Artur Jorge, Goncalo Silva, Joao Talocha; Mattheus, Claudio Falcao, Isidoro; Belloumi, Rui Costa, Marco Matias

Braga possible starting lineup:

Matheus; Gomez, Jose Fonte, Niakate, Marin; Vitor Carvalho, Pizzi, Andre Horta; Ricardo Horta, Abel Ruiz, Bruma

We say: SC Farense 0-2 Braga

Braga look capable of breaking into the top three again with the quality in their ranks, and another win here would continue to justify that claim.

The visitors will want a positive result before starting their Champions League campaign in midweek, and Farense's underwhelming form may provide a good opportunity for Braga to get just that.

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