Preview: Casa Pia vs. Braga - prediction, team news, lineups

Braga find themselves third in the table - six points shy of first-placed Benfica - while Casa Pia have slipped to ninth following a damaging run of results.

Match preview

Having gained promotion to Portugal's top tier for the first time in 83 years, Casa Pia made an eye-catching start to their comeback campaign, winning five of their first eight matches while suffering a solitary defeat along the way.

After losing just four of their opening 15 league games - picking up eight victories in the process - Casa Pia looked set to mount a serious challenge for European football, but Filipe Martins's men have failed to maintain their early-season form.

In fact, the Geese have only managed to win three of their last 14 Primeira Liga matches, and they have taken just nine points from a possible 30 since defeating Santa Clara back in January.

Worse still, Martins's side have lost three of their previous seven league outings, although they can take confidence from a recent 4-3 defeat to Sporting, as 10-man Casa Pia came from behind on three occasions before the Lions snatched a late winner.

It is also worth noting that Casa Pia chalked up a four-game unbeaten run on home soil before falling to Sporting earlier this month, proving that they are a force to be reckoned with at the Estadio Nacional.

Benfica looked destined to wrap up the Primeira Liga title with a handful of games to spare, but back-to-back defeats for the Eagles have opened the door for Braga, who find themselves six points behind the leaders with six matches remaining.

While Benfica have taken a turn for the worse of late, Braga have remained consistent, with last weekend's 1-0 victory over Gil Vicente marking a run of five victories in six league outings for Artur Jorge's men.

When you look at the bigger picture, Os Arsenalistas have lost just one of their last 10 Primeira Liga clashes, with 13 wins, one draw and two defeats coming in their previous 16 encounters.

Thanks to that hot streak, Braga now boast the second-best away record in the division, having won 11 of their 14 matches on the road this season, while no team has scored more away goals than Braga's 33.

Averaging more than two goals per game on their travels this term, Braga will be confident of sealing a ninth victory in 11 away league outings when they face Casa Pia, who have struggled for consistency since the World Cup.

Casa Pia Primeira Liga form:

W

L

W

L

L

D

Braga Primeira Liga form:

W

W

D

W

W

W

Braga form (all competitions):

W

D

W

W

W

W

Team News

Casa Pia look set to be without Corinthians loanee Leo Natel for the remainder of the campaign as the Brazilian winger continues to recover from a broken leg.

That said, the hosts have reported no fresh injury problems ahead of Friday's showdown, meaning that manager Filipe Martins has plenty of options at his disposal.

Top scorer Rafael Martins will continue to lead the line, having scored in each of the past three games, while Saviour Godwin and Yuki Soma are expected to join Martins in attack.

As for Braga, Andre Castro is likely to be absent on Friday after missing last weekend's victory over Gil Vicente, with Sequeira also expected to remain on the sidelines for the foreseeable future.

Simon Banza has racked up 13 goals and 10 assists in all competitions this season, while Ricardo Horta has bagged 13 goals and eight assists, so they should start in attack for the visitors.

At the opposite end of the pitch, goalkeeper Matheus will continue between the sticks, with Vitor Tormena and Sikou Niakate occupying the centre-back roles.

Casa Pia possible starting lineup:

Batista; Nunes, Varela, Zolotic; Poloni, Taira, Neto, Lelo; Soma, Martins, Godwin

Braga possible starting lineup:

Matheus; Gomez, Tormena, Niakate, Broja; Medeiros, Horta, Al-Musrati, Bruma; Banza, Horta

We say: Casa Pia 1-3 Braga

Given that Braga have scored at least two goals in 10 of their 11 away league wins this season, we expect Artur Jorge's men to cruise to a comfortable victory over Casa Pia, who are on course to suffer a fifth defeat in eight outings.

Previews by email