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

Os Arcebispos held their nerve from 12 yards to lift a sixth major trophy on Saturday, whilst Chaves are simply battling to preserve their first-tier status.

Match preview

After a worrying run of one win in four matches at the beginning of the calendar year, Braga turned on a style over the past week, beating Portuguese powerhouses Sporting Lisbon and Estoril in the semi-finals and final of the Taca da Liga to lift the trophy for the third time in the club's history.

Cassiano's sixth-minute penalty put Estoril into the lead in the showpiece match on Saturday night before Os Arcebispos' talisman Ricardo Horta levelled the contest in the 20th minute, and with no further blows in normal time the match was decided by penalty kicks, with Matheus saving Tiago Araujo's effort to win the shootout 5-4.

Artur Jorge's men still have an opportunity to complete a double this season due to their involvement in the knockout stages of the Europa League, however Braga's attention will turn towards Primeira Liga for the time being, with Wednesday's hosts sitting fourth in the league standings, ahead of fifth-placed Vitoria de Guimaraes on goal difference.

Leading the goalscoring charts across the entire division is Os Arcebispos target man Simon Banza, who has made the net ripple on 14 occasions in just 15 league appearances, one more strike than Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres - an attacker who has been heavily linked to Chelsea in recent months.

Os Arcebispos' record at Estadio Municipal de Braga is holding them back from challenging for a Champions League spot at the very top of the Primeira Liga, and although a tally of 14 points from eight home contests is respectable, it has not been sufficient to keep pace with Sporting, Benfica and Porto.

Following a seventh-placed finish on their return to the Primeira Liga in 2022-23, Chaves' fortunes have taken a severe nosedive during the current campaign, with the top-tier minnows six games without a win in the league and looking set for a desperate scrap for survival in the coming months.

A goalless draw with fellow struggles Rio Ave saw goalkeeper Hugo Nogueira keep only his second clean sheet of the term last time out, however Joao Moreno's men were not as successful a fortnight go against Ruben Amorim's title chasers, who sealed a comfortable 3-0 win courtesy of goals from Paulinho, Pedro Goncalves and former Coventry City man Gyokeres.

In a division which is tightly contested between eighth-placed Famalicao and 16th-placed Rio Ave, Chaves are beginning to be cut adrift at the foot of the Primeira Liga standings, as a haul of 12 points from 18 fixtures leaves them five points behind Estoril in the relative safety of 15th.

The Flavienses are the joint-lowest goalscorers in the Portuguese top flight having made the net ripple on just 18 occasions in as many contests, with 50% of their league goals coming from striker Hector Hernandez, who remarkably sits joint fourth in the division's Golden Boot race despite plying his trade for the basement dwellers.

Chaves have barely laid a glove on Wednesday's opponents in recent times, losing all of their last eight matches against Braga across the Primeira Liga and friendly clashes - a goalless draw in March 2017 at Estadio Manuel Branco represents the last time the Flavienses earned a result in this fixture.

Braga Primeira Liga form:

W

L

W

D

L

W

Braga form (all competitions):

D

L

L

W

W

W

Chaves Primeira Liga form:

L

L

L

D

L

D

Team News

Braga are set to be without the services of centre-back Sikou Niakate, who is currently on international duty with Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations.

The hosts have also missed the talents of leading marksman Banza due to his involvement in the Ivory Coast, meaning Abel Ruiz could lead the line once again on Wednesday night.

A number of players who started the Taca da Liga final on the bench are pushing for a place in the XI, including midfielders Roger Fernandes and Al Musrati.

Chaves are light on options at full-back due to the muscle injury of Habib Sylla, so Joao Correia should retain his place at right wing-back for this one.

After keeping a rare clean sheet against Rio Ave, Moreno is likely to employ the same back three of Sandro Cruz, Steven Vitoria and Junior Pius.

Nine-goal striker Hernandez missed a decisive penalty last time out, however that should not prevent him from being selected alongside Jo and Ruben Ribeiro in attack.

Braga possible starting lineup:

Matheus; Gomez, Fonte, Oliveira, Borja; Moutinho, Carvalho, Fernandes, Zalazar, Horta; Ruiz

Chaves possible starting lineup:

Nogueira; Cruz, Vitoria, Pius; Correia, Nwakali, Fernandes, Guzzo; Hernandez, Jo, Ribeiro

We say: Braga 2-0 Chaves

Braga will be full of confidence following their crowning as Taca da Liga champions, however they must warn against complacency as the division's bottom side come to town.

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