Braga – Real Madrid : Preview & Prediction
Since their 2-1 loss to Napoli in their UEFA Champions League (UCL) Group C opener, Sporting Clube de Braga have won five consecutive official matches, a perfect preparation for their meeting with Real Madrid. Fourth in the Portuguese league, the Braga side are aiming to improve on their previous experience in the top continental competition in 2012-13, an edition in which they finished bottom of their group with just one win.
Thanks to a 3-2 win after coming from 2-0 down against Union Berlin on matchday two, Braga have already matched their points tally from that edition, and will be looking to add to their home record on Tuesday. Winners of the qualifiers against TSC (3-0) and Panathinaikos (2-1) at the Estádio Municipal de Braga, the team coached by Artur Jorge has not hosted a Spanish club since August 2010, when they beat Sevilla FC 1-0 in a UCL play-off.
Real Madrid remain at the top of LaLiga despite their 1-1 draw with Sevilla in a hard-fought clash at the Sánchez-Pizjuán on Saturday. A goal by Dani Carvajal in the 78th min saved a point for Carlo Ancelotti’s squad. “We played a good game, but I’m not happy with the result,” said the Blancos coach, whose team leads Group C after wins over Union Berlin (1-0) and Napoli (3-2), both achieved with goals scored beyond the 75th minute. In Braga, Madrid will struggle to emerge victorious from a European Cup/UCL match against a different 108th opponent (an all-time record).
Los Blancos have had a few stumbles in their recent away UCL matches (last six outings: G3, E1, P2), so they will not underestimate the new challenge in their first European engagement in Portugal since November 2016. Madrid have not lost on Portuguese soil since October 1999 (G3, E1 since then) and will be looking to make their status as favorites count as they look to maintain their unblemished record in the current group stage.
Players to watch: Bruma, who played on loan at Real Sociedad in the 2015-16 season, has scored after the 50th min in each of Braga’s last three European matches. For Madrid, Vinícius Júnior may find the net earlier; the Brazilian ace’s last four UCL goals have all come before the 40th min.
Series highlight: Braga has conceded exactly one first-half goal in each of its previous four home games (break: G1, P3).
Braga – Real Madrid : Betting Tips
Real Madrid – Win Odds: 1.65
