Santa Clara will face Braga at the Estadio Braga Municipal in a highly anticipated Primeira Liga match on Monday evening. The Azoreans are eager for their first back-to-back league victories of the season. On the other hand, Braga aims to maintain a strong record against Santa Clara, having been unbeaten in their last ten encounters since September 2020.
Match Preview
Braga enters the match following a successful Europa League outing, defeating French side Nice 1-0. Pau Victor scored the only goal in this tightly contested match, ensuring Braga’s favorable positioning to qualify for the Europa League playoffs.
The team currently sits fifth in the Primeira Liga, having gathered 22 points from 13 matches. They boast three consecutive league wins, including a 2-1 victory against Famalicao in their latest fixture. Prior to this run, Braga managed only one win from eight league matches.
Braga’s Recent Form
- Last 6 League Matches: 4 Wins, 1 Draw, 1 Loss
- Recent Victory: 2-1 against Famalicao
- Current League Position: 5th with 22 points
Santa Clara, meanwhile, is looking to build on their recent 1-0 victory over Casa Pia, which came after breaking a losing streak. Frederico Venancio’s close-range goal led to their win last weekend. Previously, they had experienced four straight defeats but rebounded with a strong performance in the Taca de Portugal.
Santa Clara’s Recent Form
- Last 6 League Matches: 4 Wins, 3 Draws
- Current League Position: 11th with 15 points
Team News
Braga will be without 20-year-old defender Jonatas Noro, who is sidelined due to an Achilles injury. Victor’s recent scoring form, including a crucial strike against Nice, may see him retain his place in the starting lineup alongside Fran Navarro and captain Ricardo Horta.
Santa Clara continues to miss Pedro Pacheco, who is out with a cruciate ligament injury. However, head coach Vasco Matos benefits from a fully fit squad otherwise, allowing for strategic flexibility.
Predicted Lineups
| Braga | Santa Clara |
|---|---|
| Hornicek | Batista |
| Carvalho | Venancio |
| Niakate | Rocha |
| Arrey-Mbi | Lima |
| Gomez | Soares |
| Moutinho | Araujo |
| Gorby | Ferreira |
| Martinez | Firmino |
| Victor | Wendel |
| Navarro | Lucas |
| Horta |
Match Prediction
Experts believe Braga will comfortably win, predicting a scoreline of 2-0 against Santa Clara. Despite Santa Clara’s recent victory, they face a challenging opponent. Braga’s long-standing dominance over Santa Clara could be a decisive factor in this matchup.
