Braga – Royale Union SG : Preview & Prediction
After both teams have taken maximum points so far, Sporting Braga and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise will battle it out in UEFA Europa League (UEL) Group D to maintain their unbeaten record and take a step closer to qualifying for the knockout phase. For the home side, it is the ideal opportunity to bounce back after suffering a 4-1 drubbing at home to Porto last weekend, a shocking result given that Braga had kept clean sheets in seven of their last eight matches prior to that heavy defeat (G8), two of which are in this competition.
Relatively speaking, Braga are a very capable side in this competition and their 1-0 win last time out against Union Berlin was their 34th UEL win, meaning that only three teams have won more matches in Europe’s second most important tournament. They have also proved particularly difficult to beat at home and will now look to reach 12 home group stage matches without defeat when Royale Union come to town (G7, E4).
However, that will be no easy feat against a Royale Union side that came from behind twice last time out to beat Malmö 3-2 and maintain their 100 per cent record.
is a European debutant and only just promoted to the Belgian top flight in 2021 after a 49-year absence, so it’s fair to say Karel Geraerts’ side are establishing themselves as the surprise package of the tournament so far.
If they can win here, Royale Union will manage to record four official wins in a row for the first time since December last year, and given that they scored before the 20th minute in each of their last three matches, it would not be a surprise to see them hit the target quickly in front of goal to put the home side under pressure from the start.
Players to watch: Vítor Manuel Carvalho Oliveira has three contributions on goal (two goals, one assist) in his last three official matches for Braga, with each of those goals coming after the 75th minute. Royale Union’s Teddy Teuma is his team’s leading set-piece kicker and has seven contributions on goal (three goals, four assists) in his last eight appearances for club and country (Malta).
Weekend stat: Braga have drawn four of their six matches against Belgian sides (G1, P1), with both teams scoring in five of those games.
Braga – Royale Union SG : Betting Tips
Braga – Win Odds: 1.95
