On Thursday evening, Sporting Braga and Fiorentina clash in the Europa Conference League last 32 at the Estadio Municipal de Braga.
Braga is in good form going into this clash, as a 2-1 win at Maritimo last time out means that the home team have now won seven of their last nine games in all competitions while suffering just one defeat in the run. Their recent good league form has moved Braga into the Champions League qualifiers spot, and they look comfortable in the Primeira Liga’s top three.
When @europacnfleague is in town 💪😁#UECL pic.twitter.com/ebPixCSUw3— SC Braga (@SCBragaOficial) February 13, 2023
When @europacnfleague is in town 💪😁#UECL pic.twitter.com/ebPixCSUw3
Sporting Braga started the current campaign in the Europa League but exited the competition in a group containing Union Berlin, Malmo and Union Saint-Gilloise. Their last European outings were high-scoring in the Europa League, with over 2.5 goals scored in three of their previous four matches.
Braga has never played in the Europa League Conference, so this game will be a small piece of history for the Portuguese team.
The Viola has experienced a mixed campaign this season, as the team from Florence currently sits in 14th place in the Serie A table. Vincenzo Italiano’s team heads into this clash on the back of four defeats in their last six outings in all competitions after a 1-0 defeat at Juventus last time out.
Unlike their opponents, Fiorentina started the campaign in the Europa Conference League. However, like their hosts, this season is the Viola’s debut campaign in the relatively new competition.
The Italian team have a decent record so far in the Europa Conference League, as they have won five of their eight matches in the competition, including recording four straight wins. Fiorentina has also scored twice in each of the recent victories in the competition.
Forebet predicts that Fiorentina will record a narrow first-leg victory to take back to Florence for the second leg.