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January 29 2025, 18:58 · Trystan Pugh
Updated: January 29 2025, 19:01

Sporting Braga vs Lazio Preview: Team News & Prediction

Sporting Braga vs Lazio Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Sporting Braga have it all to do on Matchday 8 as they must beat first-placed Lazio and rely on some favours elsewhere if they are going to progress to the play-offs.

Kick-off date/time: Thursday 30th January, 2025: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Paramount+

How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+

Key Stats

  • This is the first UEFA competition match between these two teams.
  • Braga are without a win in their last ten UEFA competition matches against Italian teams (D2 L8). Since a pair of 1-0 wins against Parma in the 2006/07 UEFA Cup round of 32.
  • Braga have lost their last seven UEFA competition matches against Italian teams.
  • Braga have won four of their previous six UEFA competition matches at home this season (D1 L1).
  • Braga have lost four of their last six UEFA Europa League matches (W1 D1).
  • Braga have lost only two of their last nine home matches in all competitions (W5 D2).
  • Lazio have lost only two of their last eight UEFA competition matches against Portuguese teams (W4 D2).
  • Lazio have won six and drawn one of their seven UEFA Europa League matches this season.
  • Lazio have lost only two of their last 18 UEFA Europa League group/league matches (W10 D6).
  • Lazio have won their previous three away matches in the league phase of the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League.
  • Lazio have won nine of their last 12 away matches in all competitions (L3).

Sporting Braga vs Lazio Prediction

The situation is simple for 27th-placed Braga; they have to win this contest and then hope that other results go their way if they are to have any chance of progressing to the knockout phase play-offs.

Anything other than three points in Portugal would guarantee their elimination from the UEFA Europa League, so they simply have to go on the front foot here. Carlos Carvalhal's side may have only picked up two wins in the league phase, but both of those have come on home turf and they will be relying on some vociferous support to spur them on here.

Unfortunately for Braga though, they face the league phase leaders, with Lazio having won six of their seven European games to date.

The Italian side are near certain to finish top of the table as they have a three point buffer over both Frankfurt and Athletic Bilbao, so they can afford to relax a little in this tie.

That, combined with Braga's need to win, could result in an open and entertaining game featuring over 2.5 goals.

Sporting Braga vs Lazio Tip: Over 2.5 goals