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

Artur Jorge's side are currently unbeaten in each of their previous 18 games against the Alvinegros since August 2010 and will head into the weekend looking to extend this dominant run.

Match preview

Braga were denied a dream start to the 2023-24 Taca da Liga campaign as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Casa Pia in their Group A curtain-raiser on Wednesday.

Following a goalless first half at the Estadio Braga Municipal, the hosts took the initiative just after the hour mark courtesy of veteran forward Pizzi but Clayton converted his 76th-minute penalty to force a share of the spoils.

Jorge's men have now failed to win their last three matches across all competitions, picking two draws and suffering a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Real Madrid in Group C of the Champions League on October 24.

Despite their recent struggles, Braga have enjoyed a solid start to life in the Primeira Liga campaign and are currently unbeaten in four consecutive league outings, claiming 13 points from a possible 15 since a 3-1 loss against Farense on September 16.

Os Arcebispos have picked up fine wins, two draws and lost two of their opening nine league matches to collect 17 points and sit fifth in the table, two points behind the top-four places.

Portimonense, on the other hand, picked up their first home win of the 2023-24 Primeira Liga campaign when they edged out strugglers Estoril Praia 1-0 at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao last Saturday.

Despite seeing less than 40% of the ball possession and being on the back foot for most of the game, Pedrao's 31st-minute strike was enough to hand the Canarinhos their seventh defeat of the season and leave them rooted to the bottom of the table.

This was a second victory on the spin for the Alvinegros, who booked their spot in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal on October 20, when they beat 10-man Covilha 4-1 at the Estadio Municipal Jose Santos Pinto.

With last Saturday's result, Portimonense have now won two of their last three league outings, with a 1-0 loss against league powerhouse Porto on October 8 sandwiched between the two victories.

Paulo Sergio's men have picked up 11 points from their opening nine Primeira Liga matches to sit 10th in the league table, level on points with 11th-placed Estrela Amadora.

While Portimonense will look to pick up where they left off last weekend, next up is the daunting challenge of taking on an opposing side who have won their last four meetings and are unbeaten in each of their previous 18 across all competitions, claiming 14 wins and four draws since August 2010.

Braga Primeira Liga form:

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Braga form (all competitions):

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Portimonense Primeira Liga form:

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Portimonense form (all competitions):

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Team News

Braga remain without Spanish defender Victor Gomez, who has missed each of the last six matches after coming off injured against Estrela Amadora on September 28.

Malian defender Sikou Niakate will also play no part in Saturday's game as he serves the second of this three match ban after picking up a straight red card against Gil Vicente on October 28.

Meanwhile, Portimonense will be unable to call upon the services of Brazilian forward Luan Campos, who is set to sit out his seventh consecutive games after fling off injured against Estrela on September 2.

He is joined on the club's injury table by 28-year-old goalkeeper Kusoke Nakamura, who had missed the last six matches after picking up a shoulder problem in September.

Off the back of a solid defensive display against Estoril, Sergio could name an unchanged back three this weekend, with Pedrao, Alemao and Filipe Relvas shielding Vinicius Silvestre in goal.

Braga possible starting lineup:

Lima; Mendes, Fonte, Saatci, Borja; Al-Musrati, Zalazar; R Horta, Bruma, Djalo; Banza

Portimonense possible starting lineup:

Silvestre; Pedrao, Alemao, Relvas; Marques, Carlinhos, Clemente, Costa; Jasper, Rildo, Varela

We say: Braga 2-1 Portimonense

Portimonense have put together a fine run of form in recent weeks but will have to show their mettle against a Braga side who are unbeaten in the previous 18 meetings between the sides. While Braga have suffered a drop-off in form of late, they boast the firepower needed to turn things around this weekend and we are backing them to return to winning ways.

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