Preview: Braga vs Arouca – prediction, team news, lineups

Having performed out a considerably disappointing stalemate towards Real Betis of their midweek Europa League tie, Braga return to Primeira Liga motion on Sunday after they welcome Arouca to the Estadio Municipal de Braga.

Having misplaced every of the final three conferences between the 2 groups, the Arouquenses shall be out to finish a two-12 months hoodoo towards the house aspect and safe three consecutive victories for the primary time since March 2024.

Match preview

After an exciting second-leg comeback towards Ferencvaros within the Europa League spherical of 16 in March, Braga didn’t put one leg within the semi-finals on Thursday after they have been held to a 1-1 draw by Real Betis on dwelling turf.

Florian Grillitsch struck contained in the opening 4 minutes at hand Braga a dream begin to the tie on the Estadio Municipal de Braga, however Cucho Hernandez restored parity from the penalty spot within the 61st minute at hand Real Betis a significant first-leg draw.

Two wins of their 5 Europa League away matches depart Carlos Vicens’s males with a stern problem in Spain subsequent week, however instant focus shifts again to the Primeira Liga, the place they’ve loved one other stable marketing campaign and are on track for a high-4 end.

Braga picked up their 14th league victory final Saturday, after they edged out Moreirense 1-0 on the Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas, with Fran Navarro netting his fifth league objective of the marketing campaign at hand the hosts a 3rd defeat on the spin.

Os Arcebispos have misplaced simply two of their most up-to-date 12 Primeira Liga matches, whereas choosing up seven wins and three attracts to rise into fourth place in the league table, two factors above fifth-positioned Famalicao slightly below the Conference League qualifying spot heading into the ultimate seven matches.

© Imago / Ball Raw Images

Over within the north, Arouca turned in a dominant team show final Monday after they fought again from behind twice on the Estadio Municipal de Arouca to safe a 3-2 victory over Estoril Praia.

Xeka and Yanis Begraoui netted both aspect of Ivan Barbero’s thirteenth-minute equaliser to place Estoril in entrance, however Jose Fontan restored parity proper on the stroke of half time earlier than Pablo Gozalbez accomplished the comeback within the fifty fifth minute.

Having secured a 1-0 victory over Moreirense on March 21, Arouca are actually on the cusp of a 3rd consecutive victory, which might mark their joint-longest successful streak since March 2024, after they defeated Farense, Boavista and likewise Braga.

Vasco Seabra’s males have received 9 of their 28 Primeira Liga matches, whereas shedding 14 and claiming 5 attracts to gather 32 factors and transfer into eleventh place within the standings, degree on factors with tenth-positioned Alverca.

While victory on the Estadio Municipal de Braga might take Arouca degree with ninth-positioned Vitoria de Guimaraes within the high half of the desk, they’ve misplaced 9 of their final 10 video games towards Braga, together with three defeats of their most up-to-date three conferences since November 2024.

Braga Primeira Liga kind:

Braga kind (all competitions):

Arouca Primeira Liga kind:

Team News

© Imago / ZUMA Press Wire

Braga should cope with out the companies of Swedish defender Gustaf Lagerbielke, who’s presently suspended as a result of gathered variety of yellow playing cards within the league.

On the damage entrance, Rodrigo Zalazar is ready to sit down out his third consecutive sport, whereas Bosnian defender Adrian Barisic has been sidelined since February by a muscle drawback.

Portuguese midfielder Diego Rodrigues was pressured off injured with an 18th-minute damage towards Betis in midweek, and the 20-12 months-outdated can be out of competition for Os Arcebispos.

Arouca, in the meantime, shall be with out first-alternative goalkeeper Ignacio De Arruabarrena, who’s suspended as a result of gathered yellow playing cards, that means 26-12 months-outdated Joao Valido ought to get the nod between the sticks.

Gonzalbez was pressured off injured late within the win over Estoril final day out and is a doubt for this weekend’s tie, whereas Dylan Nandin is ready to sit down out his second consecutive sport after choosing up an damage towards Moreirense on March 21. 

Braga attainable beginning lineup:

Hornicek; Niakate, Arrey-Mbi, Rocha; Gomez, Gorby, Grillitsch, Martinez; Horta, Victor, Navarro

Arouca attainable beginning lineup:

Valido; Kuipers, Fontan, Sanchez, Esgaio; Fukui, Van Ee; Djouahra, Lee, Trezza; Barbero

We say: Braga 2-0 Arouca

With Famalicao scorching on their path, Braga know they need to keep away from any slip-ups within the run-in as they give the impression of being to clinch the Conference League ticket.

Arouca head into the weekend in rejuvenated kind, and whereas we anticipate them to go all out this weekend, we predict Vicens’s aspect will take advantage of their dwelling benefit to increase their dominance on this fixture.

For information evaluation of the almost definitely outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.