Preview: Braga vs. Estoril Praia - prediction, team news, lineups

Os Arcebispos, who are unbeaten in their last nine meetings with the visitors, have picked up 16 points from their last six Primeira Liga home games and will look to extend this fine run.

Match preview

Braga continue to mount pressure on Porto in their race for an automatic Champions League spot as they picked up a 2-1 victory over Chaves when the sides met last Sunday.

In an action-packed contest at the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira, Iuri Medeiros and Abel Ruiz scored either side or Juninho Vieira's 42nd-minute equaliser to hand the visitors a hard-fought victory.

Prior to that, Os Arcebispos kicked off the month of March with consecutive wins over Rio Ave and Vizela respectively before playing out a goalless draw with Porto on March 19.

Artur Jorge's side now return to the Estadio Braga Municipal, where they are unbeaten in their last six matches, claiming five wins and one draw since a 1-0 loss against Casa Pia before the 2022 World Cup.

Braga have now picked up 19 wins, two draws and lost five of their 26 matches so far to collect 59 points and sit third in the Primeira Liga table, two points behind second-placed Porto in the final automatic Champions League qualification spot.

Estoril Praia, on the other hand, finally gave their fans something to cheer about as they picked up a 1-0 victory over Gil Vicente at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota last Friday.

After taking an early lead through Juventus loanee Alejandro Marques, the Canarinhos turned in a defensive show of class as they repelled waves of attack from the Gilistas to complete an impressive league double over Daniel Sousa's men.

Estoril Praia were previously on a run of six consecutive league defeats while scoring just two goals and shipping a staggering 15 since February's 2-1 victory over 10-man Boavista.

With 25 points from 26 games, Ricardo Soares's side are currently 15th in the league standings, six points above 16th-placed Maritimo in the relegation playoff spot.

While Estoril Praia now set out to pick up successive wins for the first time since October, they face the stern challenge of taking on a rampant Braga side who are unbeaten in each of their last nine encounters, claiming seven wins and two draws since a 1-0 loss in September 2015.

Braga Primeira Liga form:

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Braga form (all competitions):

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Estoril Praia Primeira Liga form:

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Team News

With his winner against Chaves, Ruiz now has 10 goal involvements this season and the Spanish forward should spearhead Braga's attack once again.

He should be joined in the final third by Medeiros, Bruma and Portuguese international Ricardo Horta, who has nine goals and six assists to his name and has been a standout performer for Os Arcebispos.

At the defensive end of the pitch, we expect an unchanged back four of Victor Gomez, Sikou Niakate, Vitor Tormena and Cristian Borja shielding Matheus Lima between the sticks.

Meanwhile, Estoril Praia remain without the services of club captain Joaozinho, who will serve the second of a three-game ban after picking up a red card against Chaves on March 18.

In his absence, Tiago Araujo started at left-back and the 22-year-old should retain his place in the XI, teaming up with Tiago Santos, Bernardo Vital and Pedro Alvaro in the defence line.

Marques turned in an eye-catching performance in what was his first start since joining on loan from Juventus and we expect the Venezuelan striker to lead the visitors' attack once again.

Braga possible starting lineup:

Lima; Gomez, Niakate, Tormena, Borja; Al-Musrati, A Horta; Medeiros, R Horta, Bruma; Ruiz

Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:

Figueira; Santos, Vital, Alvaro, Araujo; Ndiaye, Carvalho; Eduardo, J Marques, Gouveia; A Marques

We say: Braga 2-0 Estoril Praia

Off the back of snapping their losing streak, Estoril Praia will head into the weekend with renewed belief as they look to steer clear of the danger zone. However, they face an in-form Braga side who are unbeaten in each of their last nine meetings since September 2015. Os Arcebispos know they cannot afford to slip up in their race to leapfrog Porto and we are backing them to come away with all three points in front of their home fans.

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