On Saturday, Nacional will face off against Braga in a crucial Primeira Liga match at Estádio da Madeira in Funchal. These teams have significantly different objectives in the league standings. Nacional sits in 14th place, just three points above the relegation playoff zone, while Braga is positioned in fourth, aiming to secure their spot in European competitions.
Match Preview
Braga reclaimed fourth place after a previous slip but held steady last weekend with a 3-2 victory over Vitoria de Guimaraes. This win followed a setback against Gil Vicente and a Taca da Liga final defeat to the same opponent earlier in the season. Currently, Braga has emerged victorious in six out of their last eight matches across all competitions, maintaining impressive momentum.
Braga’s Performance
- Braga’s recent league form: 15 points from their last six matches.
- The team is in strong contention for the Europa League round of 16.
- Braga has won 11 out of their last 13 matches against Nacional.
Despite the recent defeat in November, Braga will be confident going into this match given their historical dominance over Nacional. They have secured victories in their last five visits to Madeira, further bolstering their reputation as formidable opponents.
Nacional’s Struggles
Nacional’s form has been worrying; the team has only achieved two wins in their last 15 league matches. They faced a disappointing 3-0 loss against Arouca last time out, further complicating their fight against relegation. The absence of key players has plagued Nacional, impacting their overall performance.
- Nacional’s league form: 1 win, 2 draws, 5 losses in their last eight matches.
- The team has failed to score in their last three encounters.
- Recent struggles include a Portuguese Cup exit to Braga.
Team News
Nacional will have to strategize without Chiheb Labidi, who is suspended. Key midfielder Liziero returns after serving a suspension, which could provide a much-needed boost. However, they will miss several players due to injury, raising concerns among their coaching staff.
On the other hand, Braga has no new injury issues reported. Although they remain without Amine El Ouazzani and Jean-Baptiste Gorby, their attacking duo of Rodrigo Zalazar and Ricardo Horta continues to be pivotal, combining for numerous goals recently.
Predicted Lineups
| Nacional | Braga |
|---|---|
| Pereira; Vallier, Santos, Goncalves, Nunez; Liziero, M Dias, Baeza; Goncalves, Veron, Ramirez, Boia | Hornicek; Lagerbielke, Barisic, Arrey-Mbi; V Gomez, Moutinho, Grillitsch, D Rodrigues; Zalazar, P Victor, Horta |
Match Prediction
Experts predict a close contest, with Nacional showing some resilience at home despite their poor form. However, Braga’s experience and robust offense may lead them to victory. A likely scoreline could be 2-1 in favor of the visitors as they look to solidify their standing in the league.
