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

Having won the last four meetings between the sides since 2916, Os Arcebispos will fancy their chances of coming out on top once again and maintaining their fine early form.

Match preview

Arouca picked up their first set of consecutive Primeira Liga wins since their promotion in 2021 as they fought back from behind to see off Santa Clara 2-1 last weekend.

Following a drab first half at the Estadio de Sao Miguel, the game sparked into life five minutes after the restart when Ridlo put the hosts ahead but Rafa Mujica and Joao Basso scored in a 15-minute spell to turn the game on its head.

Prior to that, the Arouquenses kicked off the new Portuguese top-flight campaign with a humbling 4-0 loss away to Benfica on August 5 before returning home 10 days later to claim a 1-0 win over Gil Vicente.

Arouca are now unbeaten in each of their last eight games on their home turf across all competitions, claiming five wins and three draws since a 1-0 loss against Pacos de Ferreira back in March.

While they will look to keep this fine run alive and kicking, their next task sees them go up against a Braga side who have won the last four meetings between the sides and are unbeaten in 13 of their last 14 encounters.

Artur Jorge's men neatly dispatched Maritimo to maintain their impressive start to the new campaign as they picked up an emphatic 5-0 victory when the sides squared off last Sunday.

Vitor Oliveira, Iuri Medeiros, Simon Banza, Abel Ruiz and Rodrigo Gomes all got on the scoresheet as Braga cruised to all three points at the Estadio Braga Municipal.

This followed a 3-0 victory over Famalicao at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao on August 12 when a brace from Banza and Nuno Sequeira's 13th-minute strike condemned the Vila Nova to a second consecutive defeat.

Braga, who have now picked up seven points from their opening three games, head into the weekend unbeaten in seven of their last away games in the league, claiming five wins and two draws.

Arouca Primeira Liga form:

Arouca form (all competitions):

Braga Primeira Liga form:

Braga form (all competitions):

Team News

Arouca will take to the pitch without the services of Nicola Galovic and Venezuelan international Sema Velazquez, who are currently recuperating from knee and ACL injuries respectively.

Twenty-three-year-old forward Oday Dabbagh, who made 23 appearances last season, is yet to feature for the Arouquenses this season through injury and is out of contention for this weekend's clash.

Mujica, who was recently signed from Las Palmas, has done a solid job of filling the void at the attacking end of the pitch, and the Spanish forward, who has scored in his last two games, should start up top once again.

Meanwhile, Braga will have to make do with the absence of 22-year-old Victor Gomez, who has missed the last two games after coming off with a first-half injury in the league opener against Sporting Lisbon on August 7.

Newly-signed forward Banza has hit the ground running at the Estadio Braga Municipal and the former Famalicao man, who has netted four goals in the opening three games, should lead the attack once again, alongside strike partner Oliveira.

Arouca possible starting lineup:

Arruabarrena; Milovanov, Basso, Opoku, Esgaio; Soro, Busquets, Ruiz; Nunes, Bukia, Mujica

Braga possible starting lineup:

Lima; Fabiano, Tormena, Niakate, Sequeira; Medeiros, A Horta, Al-Musrati, R Horta; Banza, Oliveira

We say: Arouca 1-2 Braga

Off the back of victories over Gil Vicente and Santa Clara, Arouca will head into the weekend with sky-high confidence as they look to end their poor streak against the visitors. However, Braga they possess the firepower to get the desired result this weekend and we are tipping them to edge out the hosts once again.

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