Bragavs.Arouca

The hosts are coming into this match off a six-game unbeaten run while the visitors ended their two-game winless streak.

Match preview

Braga picked up a 5-3 victory against Portimonense at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao on Monday, making it two wins on the trot.

Artur Jorge's men have now secured 17 wins and five draws in their 27 Primeira Liga matches so far, collecting 56 points. They sit fourth in the league table, five points adrift of third-placed Porto in the Europa League qualifying spot and three points ahead of fifth-placed Vitoria de Guimaraes.

Braga have scored 16 goals and conceded five, remaining unbeaten in their last six league matches and they can extend this run against a team they have only lost to once in 17 encounters.

The Archbishops have beaten Arouca 12 times with four draws, and are currently on a run of seven consecutive victories against them.

In the last three meetings with the Arouquenses, Braga have scored nine goals and conceded none, a run they will hope to keep up when both teams face off on Saturday.

Arouca are hoping to match their joint-best fifth-place finish from last season, but their performances in the current campaign have left them in seventh place with 37 points, 15 points behind Vitoria de Guimaraes who are fifth.

The hosts started the season under the management of Daniel Ramos after Armando Evangelista, who guided the side to UEFA Europa Conference League qualification, turned down a contract renewal and opted to leave the club.

Ramos's men started the Primeira Liga with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Estoril Praia before then failing to win in any of their next 10 league games. They eventually won 4-0 against Boavista in new boss Daniel Sousa's first league game in charge.

Since then, Arouca have climbed the table quickly, winning nine of the following 15 games, and now sit comfortably 14 points above the relegation playoff spot.

In their last match, the Arouquenses won 2-1 against Farense, with Tiago Esgaio and Cristo Gonzalez finding the net before conceding a late goal.

Braga Primeira Liga form:

W

W

W

D

W

W

Braga form (all competitions):

W

W

W

D

W

W

Arouca Primeira Liga form:

L

W

W

L

L

W

Team News

Braga will take to the pitch without the services of Spanish defender Adrian Marin, who has been out of action since picking up a severe knee injury against Porto on January 14.

Ricardo Horta missed the last three games after coming off with a first-half injury versus Estrela Amadora on March 2 and the 29-year-old is also expected to miss Saturday's game.

Simon Banza bagged a brace last time out and will look to add more to his tally when he unexpectedly starts in attack alongside Abel Ruiz.

The visitors have a clean slate heading into this clash, with no player injured or suspended.

Rafa Mujica has scored 16 goals in 26 league matches and is expected to lead the line against Braga once again.

Braga possible starting lineup:

Matheus; Mendes, Saatci, Niakate, Gomez; Fernandes, Moutinho, Zalazar, Bruma; Banza, Ruiz

Arouca possible starting lineup:

Arruabarrena; Esgaio, Galovic, Montero, Weverson; Santos, Simao; Jason, Gonzales, Sylla; Mujica

We say: Braga 3-1 Arouca

Braga are in hot form and currently on a four-match winning streak on home soil. They have also been dominant in this fixture over the years and we think this will continue on Saturday. However, we also think that Arouca will break their scoring drought in this fixture.

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