The Portugal Primeira Liga resumes on Friday the 1st of April with the meeting between Sporting Braga and Benfica at the Estádio Municipal de Braga. The hosts begin the weekend in 4th place on 49 points while the visitors are in 3rd place on 61 points.
Sporting Braga come into the match on the back of a 2-1 win at Portimonense in the league prior to the international break. Sporting Braga were 2-0 up after only 22 minutes but scored an own goal in the 63rd minute which added pressure in the final 25 minutes of the match. They managed to hold on to take maximum points.
That result means Sporting Braga are undefeated in 7 of their last 8 fixtures in all competitions and have lost just 2 of their 10 most recent games. However, Sporting Braga have been finding it difficult to pick up victories and they have won 2 of their last 6 matches in all competitions.
Home form shows Sporting Braga are tough to beat and they have lost only 2 of their last 21 games in all competitions at the Estádio Municipal de Braga.
However, winning home matches in the league has been tough and Sporting Braga have won 2 of their last 6 home Primeira Liga games. Trends show there have been under 2.5 goals in 4 of their last 5 home Primeira Liga fixtures.
Benfica make the trip to the Estádio Municipal de Braga having previously beat Estoril 2-1 at home in the Primeira Liga.
Benfica scored both goals either side of half-time and Estoril had to settle for a consolation goal at the end of the match. That result means Benfica are undefeated in each of their last 9 games in all competitions.
There have been wins over Tondela, Santa Clara, Vitoria Guimaraes, Portimonense, and Estoril in the Primeira Liga plus Ajax in the Champions League.
Trends show Benfica are undefeated in their last 5 away fixtures in all competitions including victories over Arouca, Tondela, and Portimonense in the Portuguese topflight.
Benfica are unbeaten in their last 7 Primeira games, including each of their last 4 on the road. In addition, Benfica have managed to win their last 6 away games against Sporting Braga in the Primeira Liga.
Team news and Sporting Braga are expected to be without the injured duo of Roger Fernandes and Nuno Sequeira who have muscle injuries.
Benfica have three players on the treatment table, with Rodrigo Pinho, Haris Seferovic, and Lucas Verissimo all set to miss out.
This has the makings of being a close game, with home advantage for Sporting Braga meaning there is little to choose between the teams. However, Benfica are in good form right now and playing with confidence, meaning it could be them who come away with a narrow one goal victory.