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

Having secured a resounding 5-0 victory in August's reverse fixture, Os Arcebispos will set out to complete an impressive league double over the hosts and strengthen their position in the upper echelons of the league standings.

Match preview

Maritimo continue to struggle for form away from home as they suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Chaves when the sides squared off last Sunday.

Despite being under the cosh at the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira, Euller and Steven Vitoria struck inside the opening 21 minutes to put the Flavienses two goals up before Claudio Winck pulled one back for the visitors.

Maritimo have now failed to win any of their last six away games across all competitions, losing five and claiming one draw since labouring for a 1-0 victory over Pacos de Ferreira on October 28.

O Maior das Ilhas now return to home soil, where they are unbeaten in all but one of their last five league matches, with a 2-0 loss against Porto on February 1 being the only exception.

After an underwhelming first half of the season, Jose Manuel Gomes's men currently sit bottom but one in the Primeira Liga table with 13 points from 19 matches, two points off 16th-placed Santa Clara outside the automatic relegation zone.

Braga, on the other hand, continued their hunt for a first Taca de Portugal title as they brushed aside Benfica on penalties following a 1-1 draw at the Estadio Braga Municipal.

In a game where Alexander Bah and Felipe Morato received their marching orders, goals from Goncalo Guedes and Mutassim Al Musrati saw the game drag to penalties, where the hosts claimed a 5-4 victory.

Artur Jorge's side now turn their attention to the Primeira Liga, where they are currently on a run of six consecutive wins, with a 5-0 thrashing against Sporting Lisbon on February 1 being the exception.

Braga have picked up 14 wins, one draw and lost four of their 19 league matches to collect 43 points and occupy third-place in the standings, two points off second-placed Porto in the Champions League qualification spot.

Next up for Os Arcebispos is an out-of-sorts Maritimo side, who are winless in 15 of the last 20 meetings between the teams, losing 12 and picking up two draws since August 2010.

Maritimo Primeira Liga form:

D

W

L

W

L

L

Braga Primeira Liga form:

W

W

W

W

L

W

Braga form (all competitions):

W

W

W

L

W

W

Team News

Maritimo will take to the pitch without the services of 22-year-old forward Geny Catamo, who sustained a muscle injury back in October.

He is joined on the club's injury table by Portuguese midfielder Diogo Mendes, who came off injured in December's games against Sporting Lisbon.

Fellow countryman Rafael Brito has missed the last three matches after suffering an injury against Vizela on January 14 and the 21-year-old is a major doubt for this weekend's hosts.

As for Braga, Jorge will be unable to call upon French youngster Jean-Baptiste Gorby, who has been sidelined since December through a muscle injury.

Off the back of another impressive cameo off the bench, experienced winger Bruma could be rewarded with his first starting appearance since joining on loan from Fenerbahce in January.

Maritimo possible starting lineup:

Makaridze; Winck, Junior, Santos, China; Xadas, Afonso, Soares, Beltrame; Pereira, Riascos

Braga possible starting lineup:

Lima; Gomez, Oliveira, Tormena, Sequeira; Racic, Al-Musrati; Medeiros, A Horta, Bruma; Ruiz

We say: Maritimo 0-2 Braga

Following their hard-earned cup win over high-flying Benfica, Braga will head into the weekend with sky-high confidence. Jorge's side possess the firepower to get the job done at the Estadio do Maritimo and we are backing them to heap more misery on the out-of-sorts Maritimo.

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