On Saturday night, Vitoria Guimaraes and Sporting Braga clash at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques in a potentially vital encounter in the fight for the European spots in the Primeira Liga.
Inconsistent run could hamper Guimaraes’ European challengeVitoria Guimaraes have enjoyed mixed fortunes of late in the Portuguese top-flight. A 2-1 defeat at Rio Ave last time out means that Alvaro Pacheco’s team has won just one of their previous four Liga games. However, they have also won six of their last nine matches in the Primeira Liga.
Despite their recent inconsistent form in the Primeira Liga, Guimaraes are currently in fifth place, five points adrift of their fourth-place opponents.
Anything other than a win would end their hopes of European football next season.
Vitoria Guimaraes have a strong recent home record in the Primeira Liga. They are unbeaten in four home Liga games, having recorded three wins and a draw.
Their recent home matches in the Primeira Liga have been low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored in their last five home games.
Sporting Braga needs a draw to secure a top-four spotThe visitors know that a draw in this clash would be enough to clinch fourth place at the very least. However, Braga are just a point adrift of third-place Porto, who occupy the Europa League play-off spot in the Primeira Liga.
Rui Duarte’s team heads into this potentially decisive encounter with three wins in their previous four games in the Portuguese top flight. Their recent Liga games have been high-scoring, with over 2.5 goals scored in six of their last seven matches.
Braga's four-game unbeaten away run ended with a 3-1 defeat at Benfica in their last away match in the Portuguese top-flight.
What am I backing?There isn’t much between these two teams in the table. Vitoria Guimaraes is a strong home team, while Braga tends to travel well. I believe this will be a fairly even encounter. Therefore, the bet I am backing is a draw.
