Four points and as many places separate Braga and Rio Ave in the Primeira Liga table heading into Sunday's gameweek seven clash at Estadio Municipal de Braga.
The home side have seemingly overcome a mini wobble to notch consecutive victories in all competitions and chase another triumph over a team on a two-match run without maximum points.
Match preview
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After an immediate upswing following Carlos Carvalhal's appointment at Braga, Os Arcebispos have come through their first dip under the experienced manager, with a three-game winless run at home and abroad seeing them fire blanks in consecutive top-flight matches.
A goalless encounter at Gil Vicente was followed by a 2-0 home loss against Vitoria Guimaraes, but Os Arsenalistas have snapped out of those three unsuccessful showings to beat Nacional 3-0 in gameweek six and secure a 2-1 Europa League success against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Thursday night's continental success needed a late Bruma brace to turn the game around after Osher Davida put the Israeli side 1-0 up on the half-hour mark, and Carvalhal will hope his players build on their last two victories to notch a fourth league triumph this weekend.
Having already claimed back-to-back Liga wins this term after beating Boavista (1-0) and Moreirense (3-1) in August, Braga aim to close out September by doing likewise this weekend.
The precedent certainly favours the hosts, who have avoided defeat against Sunday's visitors since June 2020 — securing four wins and two draws — and look to make that five wins in seven in front of their fans.
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Although positive or negative streaks are never eternal, Rio Ave's form entering into this weekend's clash with Braga suggests their six-match winless run without beating their opponents could continue.
Luis Freire's men have claimed just two wins from their opening six Liga matches, falling to three losses and playing out one stalemate in round six's 2-2 tie with Estoril.
Vilacondenses hope to have shaken off the disappointment of losing a 2-0 advantage after Kiko Bondoso and Clayton put them ahead on the hour only to concede twice in four minutes to play out a draw.
Having failed to win any of their three away games this term, losing at Sporting Lisbon (3-1), Porto (2-0) and new boys AVS (1-0), Freire hopes his team can snap that unwanted losing sequence.
However, even the most optimistic Rio Ave supporter will expect little, given the club's inability to win on their travels since beating Santa Clara 2-0 in March 2023, an 18-month wait without a road triumph.
With just one league win on their travels since the start of 2023, Rio Ave face an uphill task in Sunday's visit to the Municipal Stadium of Braga.
Team News
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Former Wolves midfielder Joao Moutinho is out for Braga with a calf issue and is joined on the sidelines by Robson Bambu (muscle) and Rodrigo Zalazar (thigh).
After scoring a brace in Thursday's Europa League turnaround, Bruma hopes to keep his place, aiming to add to his one league goal this term in support of striker Amine El Ouazzani, who has netted twice for the home side.
Only Clayton has notched more than one goal for Rio Ave this term, and the forward hopes to add to his three Liga strikes this weekend.
Freire's men suffered no injury issues in their recent draw and head into this weekend with a clean bill of health.
Braga possible starting lineup:
Matheus; Gomez, Niakate, Arrey-Mbi, Marin; Horta, Carvalho; Bruma, Horta, Martinez; Ouazzani
Rio Ave possible starting lineup:
Jhonatan; Pantalon, Santos, Panzo; Vrousai, Oudrhiri, Neto, Richards; Morais, Bondoso; Clayton
We say: Braga 2-1 Rio Ave
Despite Braga's recent busy schedule and a growing injury list, they should have enough in the tank to eke out a marginal victory against a Rio Ave side that have lost three away matches on the spin and secured one road win since the start of 2023.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
