After moving up the Primeira Liga standings, Braga welcome relegation-threatened AVS in a bid to tighten their grip on a top-three finish.
The Archbishops claimed a crucial point away to Sporting Lisbon last time out to leapfrog Porto into third place, while the visitors remain lodged in the relegation playoff zone following their defeat to Estoril Praia.
Match preview
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Although Braga were denied a fourth successive win, they will be content with the 1-1 draw at Sporting, which took them up to 57 points and propelled them into third place.
That encounter at Alvalade came a day after Porto had been convincingly beaten by Benfica, putting added pressure on both sides in Lisbon’s capital showdown.
While Sporting needed all three points to reclaim top spot, Braga were aware that a draw would be enough to climb into third, but they fell behind early on when Vitor Gyokeres found the net in the 15th minute.
The visitors showed remarkable discipline to keep the deficit at one, and their persistence was eventually rewarded when Afonso Patrao struck late in the 87th minute to rescue a dramatic point.
Having scaled through the test at Sporting, Carlos Carvalhal‘s side now turn their attention to what appears to be their most straightforward assignment in their final six matches, with AVS the only team in that run sitting in the bottom half of the table.
The hosts will be aware that any slip-up this weekend could deal a heavy blow to their hopes of a top-three finish, especially in a fixture they are expected to dominate, having won the only previous meeting between these two clubs.
Braga’s record at home in the Primeira Liga has been solid, with eight victories, three draws and three defeats – numbers that stand out against a side that has consistently faltered on the road.
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AVS rank as the third worst away team in the division, with seven defeats in 14 trips yielding just nine points on their travels.
Rui Ferreira‘s men also failed to capitalise on home advantage last weekend, succumbing to a 3-0 loss against Estoril, which marked a fourth consecutive loss and left them with just one win from their last nine outings – a narrow 1-0 success at FS Farense that remains their only triumph on the road in the top flight.
AVS’ frailties have been most evident in attack, as they have managed just one goal in their last four matches, while their season tally of 21 ranks them as the third least prolific side in the league.
Defensively, the story is no better, with 44 conceded – also the third worst among all teams in the top tier – leaving AVS rooted in the relegation zone with 23 points from four wins, 11 draws and 13 defeats.
However, considering this is their maiden season in the Primeira Liga, survival remains their overriding aim, and they are still in with a fighting chance, sitting just three points away from safety.
Team News
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Patrao came off the bench to score Braga’s late equaliser at Sporting and could now be handed a starting role ahead of Amine El Ouazzani.
Joao Moutinho‘s red card in that fixture – only the second of his career – rules him out through suspension, with Vitor Carvalho expected to fill in, although Jean-Baptiste Gorby is another trusted option in midfield.
Robson Bambu will also be unavailable due to suspension from accumulated bookings, meaning Paulo Oliveira and Sikou Niakate are likely to pair up at the heart of defence.
Fran Navarro, Roger Fernandes and Jonatas Noro all remain sidelined through injury and will play no part in this weekend’s clash.
For the visitors, Lucas Moura and Lucas Piazon continue their recovery and are not expected to feature, while there are doubts surrounding the availability of Gerson Rodrigues and Rodrigo Ribeiro.
Guilherme Ochoa could be recalled in goal after Simao Bertelli‘s underwhelming display against Estoril.
Lucas Fernandes, who went off injured in that defeat, is now fully fit again and should return to anchor the midfield.
Braga possible starting lineup:
Hornicek; Chissumba, Oliveira, Niakite, Gomez; Horta, Racic, Carvalho, Martinez; Zalazar; Petrao
AVS possible starting lineup:
Ochoa; Tavarez, Rodriguez, Santos, Veiga; Grau, Assuncao, Fernandes; Mercado, Luis, Lopes
We say: Braga 2-0 AVS
Braga have won each of their last seven games on home turf across all competitions and have kept clean sheets in five of those, so anything short of a convincing victory for the hosts would be a real shock.
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