SETUBAL – BRAGA PREDICTION (25.01.2017)

Vitória de Setúbal and SC Braga face each other on Wednesday at the Estádio do Bonfim in Setubal, in a clash to count for the semi-finals of the League Cup. The victory of Setúbal arrives here in a good moment, both in the league and in the League Cup, and aims to follow up on this good phase and impose itself on the Arsenal players in their territory where they discuss the passage to the final of the event. Now SC Braga arrives here in the hangover of a debacle inside doors, in the Portuguese league, in another edition of the enthusiastic minby derby where he could not be superior to Vitória de Guimarães.

Vitoria Setúbal came here after beating Santa Clara in the second stage and having achieved a good campaign for the Group Stage, where he even got the best of Sporting CP, returning to try to win this event which won For only once in its history in 2007/08. The Sadians have been getting a good campaign throughout this season and arrive here with only one defeat in the last five consecutive games, with Belenenses’ home win in the last round of the Portuguese championship, meaning the climb to 8th place Table, and even if they are already practically out of the race for places of access to European competitions, with the 5th place already to 9 points, this group now focuses its attention on reaching the final of this League Cup.

This training led by José Couceiro shows a good home record, winning 8 of the 13 matches played in his stronghold in all official national competitions, losing 4, and recording a record of 16 goals scored and 8 goals conceded. Despite some defensive difficulties, the Victorians have the 6th defense in the league, having been able to improve their form in recent games, having conceded only 3 goals in the last 6 games. However, offensively do not show great effectiveness, with the counterattack being the main weapon of the Sadina group to reach the goal.

In his last 5 official games, Vitória de Setúbal has a record of 4 wins and 1 loss. This sequence of results began with a 1-0 victory at Arouca’s reception in the League Cup game. There followed a 2-1 win at Sporting CP in the League Cup game, a 1-0 home defeat by Boavista, a 1-0 victory at Nacional, and the last Day, a victory by 1-2 in the Belenenses.

Probable team Setubal: Varela – Arnold, Venâncio, Cardoso and Pinto – Costinha, Agu and Amaral – Zé Manuel, Edinho and Santos.

SC Braga, in turn, entered the Group Stage for Group C of this event and managed to get better points than Marítimo, Sp. Covilhã and Rio Ave, launching again in search of that Which could be his 2nd title in the competition, having won the competition in 2012/13, and still reaching two final halves in the last 3 years. The Minho Warriors are a very tough team and try to win every game they play, regardless of the event being discussed, and since they are outside the Europa League and the Portuguese Cup, these can now focus entirely on both the championship Like in this League Cup.

In the Liga NOS, the pupils of Jorge Simão suffered a snub in the last day, with the reception to Vitória do Guimarães, remaining in the same in 3º place in the table but leaving the Porto distanciar in the 2º place, being now to 5 Points away. Out of doors, the minotos won 5 of the 10 games in national competition, losing 3 with a record of 11 goals scored and 8 goals conceded, not as strong as at home. Still, the Arsenal players have the 3rd poorest defense of the event, and the 4th attack that scores the most goals in the league, demonstrating good arguments in the offensive process, counting on players with a good individual quality, capable of unbalancing the opponent’s defense. Any time, and a good finishing power.

In their last 5 official games, SC Braga have a record of 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss. This sequence of results began with a 4-0 victory at the reception Sp. Covilhã, in the match to count for the League Cup. There followed a 0-0 draw at Nacional, a 0-1 victory at Marítimo’s home ground in the League Cup game, a 2-0 win at Tondela, and on the final day , A defeat by 1-2 in the reception to Vitória de Guimarães. Mauro, Ricardo Ferreira, injured, Velázquez, punished, and Hassan in the service of the selection, are confirmed casualties.

Probable team Braga: Marafona – Paulinho, Jorge, Rosic and Goiano – Vukcevic, Battaglia, Pedro Santos and Eduardo – Rui Fonte and Stojiljkovic.