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Braga
Primeira Liga | Gameweek 17
Jan 9, 2022 at 6pm UK
Estadio Municipal
Famalicao logo

Braga
2 - 2
Famalicao

Horta (13'), Gonzalez (90')
Elmusrati (9'), Oliveira (68')
Rodrigues (24')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Lima (31'), Rodrigues (81')
Pickel (48'), Banza (68'), Rodrigues (78'), Brazao (88')

Preview: Braga vs. Famalicao - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Primeira Liga clash between Braga and Famalicao, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Fresh off the back of a 6-0 mauling of Arouca, Braga play host to Famalicao at the Estadio Braga Municipal in round 17 of the Primeira Liga on Sunday.

The visitors head into the game without a win in any of the last five meetings between the sides since 2016 and will be desperate to end this dry spell.


Match preview

Braga's Lucas Piazon celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates in May 2021© Reuters

Braga returned to winning ways in emphatic style as they steamrolled Arouca 6-0 when the sides squared off at the Estádio Municipal de Arouca last Thursday.

After Vitor Oliveira netted a first-half hat-trick to put the visitors three goals up heading into half time, Iuri Medeiros converted his 71st-minute penalty before substitute Roger Fernandes scored a brace to cap off a sensational team performance.

This followed a disappointing 1-0 defeat at the hands of Vizela on December 23 when Nuno Moreira scored the only goal of the game in the ninth minute to send Os Arcebispos crashing out of the Taca de Portugal.

However, Braga head into Sunday's game in fine form in the league, claiming four wins from their most recent five games with a 1-0 loss against Porto on December 12 being the only exception.

Carlos Carvalhal's men have picked up nine wins, four draws and lost four of their 16 Primeira Liga games to collect 31 points which sees them occupy fourth place on the log, six points behind Benfica in the Champions League qualification playoff spot.

Famalicao players celebrate after scoring against Porto on June 3, 2020© Reuters

Meanwhile, after securing a ninth-placed finish in the Primeira Liga last term, Famalicao will be disappointed by their performance in the first half of the season as they find themselves scrambling for points in the relegation places.

The Vila Nova have won two, drawn five and lost eight of their 15 games so far to pick up 11 points and sit bottom but one on the log, three points above rock-bottom Belenenses.

Having seen their game against Belenenses postponed due to multiple COVID-19 cases, Famalica last took to the pitch on December 21 when they were dumped out of the Taca de Portugal by Portimonense on penalties.

Famalicao head into Sunday's game on a five-game winless run across all competitions, losing four and conceding 14 goals since November's 5-2 win at Boavista.

Braga Primeira Liga form:
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W

Braga form (all competitions):
  • D
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • W

Famalicao Primeira Liga form:
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • D

Famalicao form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • L


Team News

Braga's Ricardo Horta celebrates scoring their second goal on September 30, 2021© Reuters

Vitor Oliveira was handed just his fifth start of the season in the game against Arouca last time out and after turning in a performance of the highest calibre, we expect the Portuguese forward to be handed another starting role on Sunday.

On the injury front, Braga remain without defender David Carmo, who continues his spell on the sidelines after fracturing his ankle back in February, while Nuno Sequeira picked up a knee injury against Benfica on November 7.

Recent reports claim Raul Silva, Abel Ruiz and Fabiano Silva have all tested positive for COVID-19 and will join Ricardo Horta and Chiquinho in isolation after the duo previously contracted the virus.

Famalicao, on the other hand, will take to the pitch without Portuguese forward Heriberto Tavares after the 24-year-old fractured his right toe against Benfica.

Fellow countryman Diogo Figueiras is out of contention for the visitors after suffering a muscle problem versus Gil Vicente on December 5, while Ruben Lima has been out of action since October through a hip injury.

Braga possible starting lineup:
Matheus; Oliveira, Rodrigues, Leite; Couto, Musrati, A Horta, Al Musrati; Fernandes, Medeiros, Oliveira

Famalicao possible starting lineup:
Junior; Figueiras, Penetra, Ricceli, Marin; Pepe, Pickel; B Rodrigues, Brazao, Jaime; Banza


SM words green background

We say: Braga 2-0 Famalicao

Braga will head into Sunday's game in sky-high spirits following their resounding win over Arouca last time out. We are tipping the hosts to claim all three points as they go up against an out-of-sorts Famalicao side, who have endured a horrid campaign so far.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data



ID:474651:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect9908:
Written by
Joshua Ojele

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Braga win with a probability of 62.37%. A draw had a probability of 21.8% and a win for Famalicao had a probability of 15.82%.

The most likely scoreline for a Braga win was 1-0 with a probability of 12.56%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-0 (11.83%) and 2-1 (9.75%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (10.35%), while for a Famalicao win it was 0-1 (5.5%). The actual scoreline of 2-2 was predicted with a 4% likelihood.


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Game History

How you voted: Braga vs Famalicao

Braga
90.0%
Draw
5.0%
Famalicao
5.0%
40
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Sporting Lisbon's Bruno Tabata celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates on December 7, 2021
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sporting Lisbon14120243103336
2Porto1411123392434
3Benfica1310213282432
4Santa ClaraSanta Clara149051613327
5Braga147432516925
6Vitoria de GuimaraesGuimaraes146441814422
7MoreirenseMoreirense146261919020
8FamalicaoFamalicao144731715219
9Casa Pia144551317-417
10Gil Vicente144461724-716
11Rio AveRio Ave144461525-1016
12Estoril PraiaEstoril143561221-914
13Nacional13337817-912
14AVS142661122-1112
15Estrela Amadora143381224-1212
16BoavistaBoavista142571019-911
17AroucaArouca14329823-1511
18SC FarenseFarense14239720-139


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