📊 Form Guide
Braga DWDLDW
Braga will be looking for another win after the 1-0 Europa League victory vs Feyenoord.
In that game, Braga had 46% possession and 8 shots on goal with 2 of them on target. The only player to score for Braga was Navarro (79'). For their opponents, Feyenoord had 5 shots at goal with 1 of them on target.
It’s been a rare occasion in recent times where Braga have shown defensive steel. The facts show that Braga have been scored against in 5 of their previous 6 matches, shipping 7 goals along the way.
Analysis of their past results shows that Braga:
- have not lost a league tie with Nacional in their previous 13 games. A very long unbeaten run against them.
- are without a win at home for the past 2 matches in the league.
Nacional LDLWLL
After tasting defeat last time out to Arouca in Primeira Liga action, Nacional will be hoping to turn things around here.
In that game, Nacional managed 58% possession and 15 attempts on goal with 6 of them on target. The only player on the scoresheet for Nacional was Jesús Ramírez (66'). At the other end, Arouca had 10 attempts at goal with 3 on target. Boris Popović (74') and Espen van Ee (89') scored for Arouca.
The stats tell the story, and Nacional have been scored against in 5 of their last 6 games, seeing their opponents hit 10 goals in all. Defensively, Nacional could really do with shoring things up. Such a pattern isn’t assured to be continued into this next game, of course.
Going into this one, Nacional have not registered a win against Braga when they've played them away from home in the last 7 matches in the league. Not the best of away records.
↔️ Head to head
Checking on their past head to head results going back to 12/08/2018 shows that these encounters have ended in disappointment for Nacional. They’ve not managed to get themselves any wins whatsoever whereas Braga have maintained the edge over them, getting wins in 100 per cent of those games where they have faced each other.
In all, 19 goals were scored between them in these games, with 15 of them for Os Arcebispos and 4 for Os Alvinegros. The average number of goals per game works out to 3.17.
The last league clash between the two was Primeira Liga match day 23 on 21/02/2025 when the final score was Braga 1-0 Nacional.
In that match, Braga managed 55% possession and 20 attempts at goal with 7 on target. Their only player on the scoresheet was Jean-Baptiste Gorby (37').
For their opponents, Nacional had 8 shots at goal with 3 on target.
The match was refereed by Cláudio Pereira.
📋 Team News: Braga
Regarding absentees, there’s just the lone fitness concern for the Braga gaffer Carlos Vicens to be concerned with due to a largely intact group of players. Jonatás Noro (Achilles tendon rupture) misses out.
In all likelihood, Os Arcebispos should use a 4-4-2 system featuring Lukas Hornicek, Victor Gomez, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Sikou Niakate, Leonardo Lelo, Rodrigo Zalazar, Joao Moutinho, Jean-Baptiste Gorby, Gabri Martinez, Fran Navarro and Ricardo Horta.
📰 Team News: Nacional
From a largely healthy group, there is just the one fitness problem for the Nacional manager Tiago Margarido to be concerned with. Miguel Baeza (Knee injury) misses out for this game.
We believe Os Alvinegros could decide to begin the game with a 4-3-3 formation, giving starts to Lucas Franca, Joao Aurelio, Leonardo Santos, Ze Vitor, Jose Gomes, Chiheb Labidi, Andre Sousa, Liziero, Paulinho Boia, Jesus Ramirez and Pablo Ruan.
💭 Prediction
We’ve got the feeling that Braga will probably see a lot of the ball and convert quite a few goal-scoring opportunities.
In contrast, Nacional could well struggle to break down their defence although we do think it’s probable that they will be managing to get on the scoresheet.
Our selection here is for a decent 3-1 winning margin for Braga come full-time.