Braga will be seeking to move to the top of the Primeira Liga standings when they play host to Vizela at the Estadio Braga Municipal on Sunday.
The Vizelenses, on the other hand, head into the weekend on a run of five consecutive games without a win and will be desperate to end this dry spell.
Match preview
Braga made it two wins from two in their quest for European glory as they saw off Union Berlin 1-0 on home turf in Group D of the Europa League last Thursday.
Having kicked off their campaign with a 2-0 win over Malmo on September 9, 22-year-old forward Vitinha scored the only goal of the game to condemn the German outfit to a second consecutive group defeat.
Braga now return to the Primeira Liga, where they are currently on a five-game winning streak, scoring 18 goals and keeping four clean sheets since a thrilling 3-3 draw with Sporting Lisbon on the opening weekend back in August.
Artur Jorge's side, who secured a fourth-placed finish last term, are currently second in the Primeira Liga standings, two points off first-placed Benfica, after 16 points from their opening six games.
Braga head into Sunday on a run of seven consecutive wins across all competitions, while they are unbeaten in 12 of their last 14 games across all competitions, claiming an impressive 12 wins and one draw since the start of July.
Vizela, on the other hand, were condemned to a second consecutive defeat last time out when they were beaten 1-0 by Estoril Praia at the Estadio do Vizela.
In a game where Tomas Silva received his marching orders, Erison scored the only goal of the game in the 28th minute to hand the Canarinhos their third win of the season.
Alvaro Pacheco's men have now failed to win any of their last five games, picking up two points from a possible 15 while conceding seven goals and scoring four since a 1-0 victory away to Rio Ave in August's league opener.
With five points from their opening six games, Vizela are currently 13th in the league standings, level on points with 14th-placed Rio Ave, but could rise as high as 10th place with all three points this weekend.
The Vizelenses head into Sunday's matchup on a run of just two wins in their last 11 away games in the Primeira Liga, picking up three draws and losing six since the start of February.
Awaiting them is a Braga side who have won four of the last five meetings between the sides since July 2021, with a 1-0 defeat in last December's Taca de Portugal round-of-16 clash being the only exception.
- D
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- L
- D
- D
- L
- L
Team News
Braga will once again be without Spanish defender Victor Gomez, who has been out of action since he was forced off midway through the first half in August's league opener against Sporting Lisbon.
He is joined on Os Arcebispos' injury table by 23-year-old defender Sikou Niakate, who has missed the last three games following an injury sustained against Vitoria de Guimaraes on September 3.
Jorge watched his side keep a sixth clean sheet in eight games across all competitions this season and we expect the Portuguese manager to name an unchanged back four of Fabiano Silva, Vitor Tormena, Paulo Oliveira and Nuno Sequeira, shielding Matheus Lima in goal.
As for Vizela, 22-year-old full-back Silva is out of contention for this weekend's matchup after receiving his marching orders against Estoril Praia last time out.
In his absence, Igor Juliao will push for his first starting appearance of the season, teaming up with Anderson, Ivanildo Fernandes and Kiki Afonso in defence.
On the injury front, the Vizelenses will take to the pitch without Bruno Wilson, who is set to sit out his second consecutive game after sustaining a game-ending injury midway through the game against Benfica on September 2.
Braga possible starting lineup:
Lima; Fabiano, Tormena, Oliveira, Sequeira; Medeiros, A Horta, Al Musrati, R Horta; Banza, Vitinha
Vizela possible starting lineup:
Buntic; Juliao, Wilson, Anderson, Afonso; Mendez, Guzzo, Samu; Osmajic, Bondoso, Moreira!-- TN -->
We say: Braga 2-0 Vizela
Braga are currently firing on all cylinders and head into the weekend clash as one of the most in-form sides in the division. They have won their last seven games across all competitions and we predict that they will make light work of a floundering Vizela side who have struggled to grind out results this season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
body check tags ::
Previews by email
