Nacional vs Braga prediction and betting tips on September 20, 2024
Game Prediction
In the 6th round of the Primeira Liga on September 20, 2024, Nacional will face Braga.
Nacional vs Braga: Key Statistics and Trends
- Nacional has won two of their last six matches.
- Braga was unbeaten in 13 consecutive games, but their streak has recently ended.
- Nacional wins the first half in 52% of matches, while Braga wins in 30% of theirs.
Our prediction for the Nacional vs Braga match
The "Black and Whites" finished second in Portugal's Liga 2 last season, securing promotion to the Primeira Liga once again. Their last stint in the top division was during the 2020/2021 season, which ended in relegation after finishing at the bottom of the table. Meanwhile, the "Archbishops" played in the Champions League last autumn and later participated in the Europa League playoffs in the spring. However, in the domestic league, they slipped from third to their usual fourth-place finish behind Portugal's traditional giants.
Nacional has been busy signing players throughout the summer, mostly through loan deals. Notably, Labidi arrived from Tunisia as a free agent in September. Braga, on the other hand, saw the departure of some aging but once-strong players, including José Fonte and Lucas Piazon, along with Rony Lopes, Borja, Banza, and Wdowik. While there were new signings, none were particularly high-profile. The most expensive acquisition was Roberto Fernández Jaén, who was bought from Málaga for €1.8 million.
Braga, managed by Carvalhal, spent the second half of the summer competing in the Europa League, successfully advancing through qualifiers against Maccabi Petah Tikva, Servette, and Rapid Vienna. Simultaneously, they remained unbeaten in the Primeira Liga, though they had to settle for draws against Estrela and Gil Vicente. However, they suffered a 0-2 loss to Guimarães at home. Nacional, after starting the season with an away draw against ABC, was thrashed 1-6 by Sporting and lost away to Arouca. However, they ended the summer with their first win, beating Gil Vicente. They also won at home against Farense, but followed that with a 0-1 loss at Estoril.
Nacional vs Braga: Possible Lineups
Nacional (predicted lineup): Lucas França – José Manuel, Vitor, Ulisses, Gustavo Garcia – Esteves, Dias, Peña – Appiah, Thiago Reis, Macedo
Braga (predicted lineup): Matheus – Marin, Arrey-Mbi, Oliveira, Victor Gomes – André Horta, Carvalho, Martínez, Ricardo Horta, Fernández – El Wazzani
Head to Head matches: Nacional vs Braga
Nacional last defeated Braga back in 2013. In the last nine encounters, they have managed only one draw.
Free prediction today for the match: Nacional vs Braga
It’s hard to imagine Braga slipping up for the second time in a row. Our prediction is a Braga win (odds – 1.8).