Braga set out in search of a third consecutive home win for the first time since March when they take on Vitoria de Guimaraes in round five of the Primeira Liga on Sunday.
Os Vimaranenses journey to the Estadio Braga Municipal where they have failed to win any of their last nine visits since January 2017 and will head into the weekend looking to end this seven-year run.
Match preview
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Braga were involved in a share of the spoils for the second consecutive game just before the international break as they played out a goalless draw with Gil Vicente on September 1.
The Gilistas were made to rue their wasteful display in front of goal as they failed to finish off several clear-cut chances at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos before settling for a share of the spoils.
Prior to that, Braga turned in a fine show of fighting spirit in the Europa League playoff as they came from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw against Rapid Vienna on August 29 and complete a 4-3 aggregate victory over the Austrian outfit.
Following their fourth-placed finish last season, Carlos Carvalhal's men have picked up two wins and two draws from their four games to collect eight points from a possible 12 and sit sixth in the table, one point and one place behind Sunday's visitors.
After two consecutive games on the road, Braga now returns home, where they are unbeaten in each of their five matches across all competitions this season, picking up three wins and two draws while scoring eight goals and conceding three.
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Vitoria de Guimaraes, on the other hand, returned to winning ways in the league last time out as they snatched a 2-1 victory over Famalicao when the two sides squared off at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques.
Sorriso netted in the 17th minute to cancel out Kaio Cesar's early opener and pull Famalicao level, but Tomas Handel struck in the first minute of stoppage time to hand the Vila Nova their first defeat of the season.
Prior to that, Vitoria de Guimaraes kicked off the 2024-25 Primeira Liga campaign with a 1-0 victory over Arouca at the Estadio Municipal de Arouca on August 12, six days before seeing off Estoril Praia by the same scoreline on home turf.
With the result against Famalicao, Rui Borges's men have now won all but one of their 10 games across all competitions this season, a run which has seen them secure European football after claiming a 7-0 aggregate victory over Zrinjski Mostar in the Europa Conference League playoff back in August.
While Guimaraes will be looking to pick up where they left off before the break, they will need to be at their best at the Estadio Braga Municipal, when they have failed to win any of their last eight visits, losing six and claiming two draws since a 2-1 victory in January 2017.
Team News
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Braga will take to the pitch without the defensive duo of 32-year-old Paulo Oliveira and Mali international Sikou Niakate, who are currently recuperating from ankle and muscle injuries respectively.
Veteran midfielder Joao Moutinho has been ruled out since coming off injured in the friendly against Servette on August 15 while Bruma has missed the last three matches due to a muscle problem.
Robson Bambu was forced off with a thigh injury midway through the first half against Rapid Vienna on August 29 and the Brazilian defender, who joined from French outing Nice in the summer window is ruled out of this weekend's clash.
Jorge Fernandes has missed each of the last two games since picking up a shoulder injury against AVS on August 25 and the 27-year-old defender is a major doubt for Vitoria de Guimaraes.
Barring any late fitness issues, Fernandes should be the absentee for this weekend's visitors, giving Borges the luxury of a relatively full-strength squad at his disposal.
Summer signing Cesar got off the mark in the Bundesliga with his opener against Famalicao and the 20-year-old should retain his role in the front three, alongside Nelson Oliveira and Ricardo Mangas.
Braga possible starting lineup:
Lima; Gomez, Arrey-Mbi, Ribeiro, Marin; Zalazar, Horta, Carvalho; Horta, El Ouazzano, Martinez
Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:
Varela; Gaspar, Borevkovic, Villanueva, Mendes; Samu, Handel, Silva; Cesar, Oliveira, Mangas
We say: Braga 2-1 Vitoria de Guimaraes
Braga and Vitoria de Guimaraes have enjoyed a solid start to the season and will be looking to strengthen their position in the top half of the table. Carvalhal's men boast a dominant home record against Os Vimaranenses and we are backing them to secure all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
