BELENENSES VS BRAGA PREVIEW & PREDICTION
Belenenses and Sporting Braga face at Estádio do Restelo, in a match for the 32nd game of the Primeira Liga. In the last head-to-head for this edition of the league, played on 12-16-2017, Sporting Braga won at home (4-0). The record of direct matches played in this stadium indicates total balance between these two teams, since there were 2 victories for each team in the last 4 matches. But the last time these two teams met at this stadium was on 18-03-2017, for the Primeira Liga, which ended with the victory of Sporting Braga by (1-2). Maurides (22 ‘) scored the goals of the match, for Belenenses, and F. Hanin (1’ Autogolo) and Rui Fonte (19 ‘), for Sporting Braga. Particular attention is required for the home / away condition, since both teams present significantly different results at home and abroad.
Belenenses:
The home team is currently in the 12 th position of the league, with 34 points won, after 8 wins, 10 draws and 13 losses. In the penultimate match, they lost at home against Sporting Lisboa, by (3-4). In the last match, they tied in an away match against Paços de Ferreira by (1-1). This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 2 wins, 6 draws and 7 losses in away matches; against 5 wins, 6 draws and 4 losses at their stadium. For the championship, Belenenses won 10 points out of 30 possible points, after 2 wins, 4 draws and 4 losses in the last 10 home matches. Their attack has scored regularly, since they have scored goals in 8 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In their home matches for this competition there is a tendency for few goals, since 10 of the last 15 matches have ended with Under 2,5 goals. In 31 matches in this competition, he never got the comeback in the 13 games in which he suffered the first goal. In the last 15 home matches for this competition there is 1 period that stands out: they have conceded 7 of their 17 goals between minutes (76’-90 ‘).
The Belenenses comes to this game after a tie to a ball against Paços de Ferreira, adding the third day in a row without winning the Portuguese championship. But at this moment the home team is not at risk of descent. In this home game coach Silas must keep the team in 3-4-3, benefiting the organization and counterattacks. The striker Maurides is the best finisher of Belenenses, with 6 goals scored. Of note that the locals have some quality in both sectors when playing in this condition, as they scored on average 1.33 goals and suffered 1.13 goals per game. For this game the coach can not count on the injured Yazalde, Filipe Chaby, Fredy and Tandjigora.
Braga:
The away team is currently in the 4 th position, with 71 points won, after 23 wins, 2 draws and 6 losses. In the penultimate match, they won in an away match against Paços de Ferreira, by (1-5). In the last match, they won in a home match against Marítimo, by (2-0). This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 6 wins, 3 draws and 6 losses in away matches, with 33 goals scored and 21 conceded; against 13 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss at their stadium, with 32 goals scored and 9 conceded. For the league, Sporting Braga won 20 points out of 30 possible points, after 6 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses in the last 10 home matches. Their offense has scored regularly, since they have scored at least one goal in each of the last 10 matches for this competition. In their home matches there is a tendency for goals, since 11 of the last 15 matches for this competition have ended with Over 2,5 goals. In 31 matches in this competition, they have only won 2-for-9 matches in which they have conceded the first goal.
The Braga leaves for this party with a victory in house in front of the Maritime one, by 2-0, adding the ninth triumph in the last ten parties disputed. Of note that visitors seek to reach Sporting Lisboa in the 3rd position of the championship. Despite playing away from home, coach Abel Ferreira must play in the usual 4-4-2, benefiting possession of the ball and organized attacks, that is, the objective will be to attack without exposing himself defensively. Striker Paulinho is the best score of Braga, with 12 goals scored. The maintenance of ball possession and completion are some of the strengths of this training. Marafona, Mauro, Rosic, Ricardo Ferreira and Fransérgio continue out of this game due to injury.
PREDICTION: Braga to win @ 1.56
