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

The Flavienses will head to the Estadio Braga Municipal desperate to get one over the hosts, having lost each of the last five meetings between the teams since March 2017.

Match preview

Braga saw their 100% record in the Europa League come to an end as they fell to a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Union Saint-Gilloise on Thursday.

Following an uneventful first half, Abel Ruiz struck four minutes into the second period to put the hosts ahead but super-sub Gustaf Nilsson struck twice in the final four minutes of the game to hand the Belgian outfit a dramatic victory.

Prior to that, Artur Jorge's side picked up two wins from their opening two Europa League outings, seeing off Malmo 2-0 in their Group D opener on September 8 before claiming a 1-0 victory over Union Berlin one week later.

Braga now turn their sights to the Primeira Liga where they suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of league champions Porto last Friday to bring their run of six consecutive victories to an end.

With 19 points from a possible 24, Os Arcebispos are currently second in the league standings, level on points with third-placed Porto and three points off first-placed Benfica, who are yet to lose a league game this season.

Braga's impressive start to the season has been owing to the solid job done at both ends of the pitch as they boast the league's best attacking record with 24 goals scored already while they have kept five clean sheets in their opening eight games.

Chaves, on the other hand, were denied their first home win since their return to the top flight as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Estoril Praia when the sides squared off last Saturday.

In a cagey affair at the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira, Hector Hernandez put the hosts ahead with a 39th-minute strike but Rodrigo Martins restored parity in the 76th minute to force a share of the spoils.

Vitor Campelos's men have now failed to taste victory in any of their last four outings, picking up two points from a possible 12 since their surprise 2-0 win over Sporting Lisbon on August 27.

With nine points from their opening eight games, Chaves are currently 13th in the Primeira Liga standings, but could potentially rise as high as ninth place with all three points this weekend.

The Flavienses follow Sunday's game with a trip to the Sports Complex De Valadares to square off against lower-tier side Valadares Gaia FC in their Taca de Portugal opener on October 16.

Braga Primeira Liga form:

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Braga form (all competitions):

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Chaves Primeira Liga form:

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Team News

Braga will take to the pitch without first-choice goalkeeper Matheus, who will serve a domestic suspension after picking up a straight red against Porto last Friday.

In his absence, 27-year-old Tiago Sa should start between the sticks for the first time this season, with Sikou Niakate and Vitor Tormena teaming up at the heart of the back four once again.

Meanwhile, Chaves will be without Brazilian defender Euller, who has missed the last four games after picking up an injury in August's game versus Sporting Lisbon.

With his opener against Estoril Praia last time out, Hernandez now has three goals to his name this season and the Spanish forward should spearhead the Flavienses' attack once again.

He should be joined in the final third by Villarreal loanee Jonny Arriba and 25-year-old Juninho Vieira, while Joao Mendes, Guima and Joao Teixeira should retain their roles at the centre of the park.

Braga possible starting lineup:

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

Chaves possible starting lineup:

Fagundes; Correia, Monte, Ponck, Langa; Mendes, Guimaraes, Teixeira; Arriba, Hernandez, Juninho

We say: Braga 2-0 Chaves

Braga will be looking to arrest their slump in form after losing each of their last two outings. They are unbeaten in their previous seven meetings against Chaves and we predict they will extend their dominance in this fixture by claiming a comfortable victory.

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