Nacional will host Sporting Braga at Estadio da Madeira on Friday in another round of the 2024-25 Primeira Liga campaign. The home side have endured a difficult return to the Portuguese top flight and now find themselves 15th in the league table with just four points from five matches.
They were beaten 1-0 by Estoril Praia last time out, falling behind in the opening 20 minutes of the game before a red card to Ulisses midway through the second half all but scuppered their chances of a comeback result on the road.
Meanwhile, Sporting Braga enjoyed a strong start to their season but have hit a rough patch in recent games. They were beaten 2-0 by Vitoria last time out with a Bright Arrey-Mbi second-half red card sandwiched between goals from their opponents as they recorded their first home defeat to Os Conquistadores since January 2017.
The visitors now sit seventh in the league table with eight points from five matches and will aim to return to winning ways this weekend.
Nacional vs Sporting Braga Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- There have been 47 meetings between Nacional and Braga. The hosts have won just nine of those games while the visitors have won 27 times. There have been 11 draws between the two teams.
- The visitors are undefeated in their last 15 games in this fixture, a run stretching back to 2014.
- The hosts are without a clean sheet in their last nine games in this fixture.
- Nacional have conceded nine goals in the Primeira Liga so far this season. Only last-placed Farense (12) have shipped more.
Nacional vs Sporting Braga Prediction
Nacional have lost three of their last four games and have won just one of their last five. They have, however, lost just once on home turf all year and will be hopeful of a positive result on Friday.
Braga's latest result ended a 10-game unbeaten streak in competitive action and they will be looking to bounce back here. They have performed well in this fixture of late and should come out on top here as well.
Prediction: Nacional 1-3 Sporting Braga
Nacional vs Sporting Braga Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Result: Braga to win
Tip 2 - Goals - Over/under 2.5 - Over 2.5 goals (Each of the last nine matches between the two teams have all produced more than 2.5 goals)
Tip 3 - Both teams to score: YES (Both sides have found the back of the net in four of their last five matchups)