Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

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

sportsmole.co.uk, 16 September 2022, 20:19
Braga will be seeking to move to the top of the Primeira Liga standings when they play host to Vizela at the Estadio Braga Municipal on Sunday.

The Vizelenses, on the other hand, head into the weekend on a run of five consecutive games without a win and will be desperate to end this dry spell.

Match preview

Braga made it two wins from two in their quest for European glory as they saw off Union Berlin 1-0 on home turf in Group D of the Europa League last Thursday.

Having kicked off their campaign with a 2-0 win over Malmo on September 9, 22-year-old forward Vitinha scored the only goal of the game to condemn the German outfit to a second consecutive group defeat.

Braga now return to the Primeira Liga, where they are currently on a five-game winning streak, scoring 18 goals and keeping four clean sheets since a thrilling 3-3 draw with Sporting Lisbon on the opening weekend back in August.

Artur Jorge's side, who secured a fourth-placed finish last term, are currently second in the Primeira Liga standings, two points off first-placed Benfica, after 16 points from their opening six games.

Braga head into Sunday on a run of seven consecutive wins across all competitions, while they are unbeaten in 12 of their last 14 games across all competitions, claiming an impressive 12 wins and one draw since the start of July.

Vizela, on the other hand, were condemned to a second consecutive defeat last time out when they were beaten 1-0 by Estoril Praia at the Estadio do Vizela.

In a game where Tomas Silva received his marching orders, Erison scored the only goal of the game in the 28th minute to hand the Canarinhos their third win of the season.

Alvaro Pacheco's men have now failed to win any of their last five games, picking up two points from a possible 15 while conceding seven goals and scoring four since a 1-0 victory away to Rio Ave in August's league opener.

With five points from their opening six games, Vizela are currently 13th in the league standings, level on points with 14th-placed Rio Ave, but could rise as high as 10th place with all three points this weekend.

The Vizelenses head into Sunday's matchup on a run of just two wins in their last 11 away games in the Primeira Liga, picking up three draws and losing six since the start of February.

Awaiting them is a Braga side who have won four of the last five meetings between the sides since July 2021, with a 1-0 defeat in last December's Taca de Portugal round-of-16 clash being the only exception.

Braga Primeira Liga form:

Braga form (all competitions):

Vizela Primeira Liga form:

Team News

Braga will once again be without Spanish defender Victor Gomez, who has been out of action since he was forced off midway through the first half in August's league opener against Sporting Lisbon.

He is joined on Os Arcebispos' injury table by 23-year-old defender Sikou Niakate, who has missed the last three games following an injury sustained against Vitoria de Guimaraes on September 3.

Jorge watched his side keep a sixth clean sheet in eight games across all competitions this season and we expect the Portuguese manager to name an unchanged back four of Fabiano Silva, Vitor Tormena, Paulo Oliveira and Nuno Sequeira, shielding Matheus Lima in goal.

As for Vizela, 22-year-old full-back Silva is out of contention for this weekend's matchup after receiving his marching orders against Estoril Praia last time out.

In his absence, Brazilian international Igor Juliao will push for his first starting appearance of the season, teaming up with Anderson, Ivanildo Fernandes and Kiki Afonso on the defence line.

On the injury front, the Vizelenses will take to the pitch without Bruno Wilson, who is set to sit out his second consecutive game after sustaining a game-ending injury midway through the game against Benfica on September 2.

Braga possible starting lineup:

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

Vizela possible starting lineup:

Buntic; Juliao, Wilson, Anderson, Afonso; Mendez, Guzzo, Samu; Osmajic, Bondoso, Moreira!-- TN -->

We say: Braga 2-0 Vizela

Braga are currently firing on all cylinders and head into the weekend clash as one of the most in-form sides in the division. They have won their last seven games across all competitions and we predict they will make light work of a floundering Vizela side who have struggled to grind out results this season.

Previews by email

Top News

14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England moved to the top of their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League group on Thursday evening courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Greece. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Didier Deschamps was left frustrated on Thursday as his France side failed to capitalise on their dominance against Israel, being held to a 0-0 draw, though they still progressed to the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals after Italy beat Belgium in the other League A Group 2 fixture. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England have risen to the top of Group 2 of League B in the UEFA Nations League courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Greece in Athens on Thursday night. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sandro Tonali's first international goal was enough to send Italy through to the finals of the UEFA Nations League courtesy of a 1-0 win away in Belgium this evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea Women and Manchester City Women will go head-to-head in Saturday's top-of-the-table clash at Stamford Bridge. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola has asked Manchester City to sign two defenders in 2025, according to a report. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Nassr centre-back Aymeric Laporte has said that he is open to making the move to Real Madrid. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco has said that his club are not planning to be active during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Moldova can boost their hopes of securing promotion from League D Group 2 in the UEFA Nations League when they face fellow European minnows Andorra at Estadi Nacional on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Montenegro welcome Iceland to Stadion Kraj Bistrice in Niksic for their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal Women and Tottenham Hotspur Women will be looking to secure derby bragging rights when they face off in Saturday's Women's Super League clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nacho has ruled out the possibility of returning to Real Madrid amid suggestions that Los Blancos were considering making an attempt to re-sign him during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams with contrasting objectives in the National League are set to meet at the Gateshead International Stadium on Saturday, as promotion hopefuls Gateshead host relegation-threatened Aldershot Town. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim will reportedly take Manchester United training for the first time on Monday, with the club confident that his visa will have arrived in time for him to officially get on the grass next week. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has said that a back issue forced Lisandro Martinez to pull out of the squad for the national team's upcoming 2026 World Cup qualification matches with Paraguay and Peru. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has reportedly set his sights on an exit from the club next summer, and plans to take key man Alex Grimaldo with him. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together at the top of League C Group 1 with two games to play, Sweden and Slovakia will battle it out to take the outright lead when they meet on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal will reportedly allow out-of-favour defender Jakub Kiwior to leave the club on loan in January. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wales travel to the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri to face Turkey in their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Pablo Torre has not ruled out the possibility of leaving the club in January, after seeing his game time reduced recently. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to narrow their gap to the top two in the League One table with a third consecutive victory, Barnsley will visit the Abbey Stadium to take on Cambridge United on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Isak has delivered a fresh update on his future at Newcastle United, amid reported interest from a number of clubs including Arsenal. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United Women will attempt to claim back-to-back victories when they travel to the Broadfield Stadium for Saturday's Women's Super League meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion Women. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma have confirmed the appointment of 73-year-old Claudio Ranieri as their new first-team manager until the end of the season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has revealed that he was "desperate" to join Chelsea in 2022. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal could rival Manchester City and Liverpool for the signature of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly weighing up whether to make a move for in-form PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As exquisite as Pedro Neto's equaliser was, the Portuguese's 20-yard leveller for Chelsea in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal was arguably more to do with the Gunners' uncharacteristic defensive failings. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly made a decision over whether they will pursue a move for Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian has revealed that he will continue with his education even after completing a big-money transfer to Chelsea.