Sporting Braga vs Sporting CP Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Portuguese Primeira Liga
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THE FACTS
When is Sporting Braga vs Sporting CP on and what time does it start? Sporting Braga vs Sporting CP will take place on Sunday 3rd September, 2023 – 20:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Sporting Braga vs Sporting CP? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Sporting Braga vs Sporting CP on in the UK? Some Portuguese Primeira Liga matches are televised on either TNT Sports or Viaplay Sports in the UK so it is worth checking their schedules
Where can I Sporting Braga vs Sporting CP in the UK? If televised on either TNT Sports or Viaplay Sports, the match can be streamed on their respective streaming platforms
THE LOWDOWN
SPORTING BRAGA
Sporting Braga finished third in the Primeira Liga table last season, breaking up ‘The Big Three’ and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. In that competition so far, they have defeated Backa Topola and then Panathinaikos in midweek to qualify for the group stages of the tournament; strengthening the reputation of young, impressive coach Artur Jorge.
The home team began the domestic campaign with a 2-1 defeat at home to Famalicao, having rested some players due to their involvement in the UEFA Champions League. Since then they have played just once in the league and put up another typically entertaining match against Chaves, eventually winning the game 4-2 but being 2-1 down at one stage and drawing 2-2 before Chaves had a man sent off.
SPORTING CP
After a disappointing campaign last time around, in which they finished fourth and missed out on UEFA Champions League qualification with their title chances over within the first ten games of the season, Sporting CP will be aiming for a much-improved campaign as they seek to continue where they left off after finishing last season in excellent form.
Ruben Amorim remains one of the more exciting young coaches in European football but his stock has also fallen with that stagnation. The Lisbon club have started the 2023/24 Primeira Liga campaign with three successive victories, albeit all three wins have been relatively unconvincing. They led 2-0 against Vizela, got pegged back and needed a late winner before a 2-1 win against Casa Pia and then squeezing past Famalicao by a goal to nil last weekend.
THE TEAM NEWS
SPORTING BRAGA
Artur Jorge may be tempted to rotate after his side travelled to Athens to face Panathinaikos in midweek but he has a fully fit and available squad.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Matheus; Gomez, Fonte, Niakate, Marin; Al-Musrati, Carvalho; Horta, Zalazar, Bruma; Ruiz
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
SPORTING CP
Jeremiah St. Juste is missing again for Sporting but Ruben Amorim has a pretty much fully fit squad and they should name an unchanged eleven for this weekend.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Adan; Diomande, Coates, Inacio; Esgaio, Hjulmand, Morita, Santos; Goncalves, Gyokeres, Paulinho
UNAVAILABLE: St. Juste (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Last season, Sporting Braga toppled Sporting CP by breaking into the top three and earning UEFA Champions League qualification ahead of one of ‘Os Tres Grandes’. Ruben Amorim’s stock, as mentioned, has fallen but the capital city club have earned three wins at the start of this season and now travel to a probably tired Braga side that have already conceded in four of their last five matches across all competitions. This should be an entertaining and front foot, attacking game of football as it was when they shared a 3-3 draw last season.
TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
