Preview: Braga vs. Boavista - prediction, team news, lineups

Braga will be looking to build on their impressive Europa League victory over Midtjylland when they welcome Boavista to the Estadio Municipal de Braga on Saturday.

The visitors, on the other hand, head into the game seeking to get one over their hosts having lost in both home and away fixtures last season.

Match preview

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Braga picked up their first win in Group F of the Europa League when they comfortably saw off Midtjylland 3-1 in Portugal last Thursday.

After Evander's 19th-minute spot kick handed the Danish outfit a one-goal lead heading into the interval, Os Arcebispos upped the ante and turned the game on its head through Ricardo Horta's 62nd-minute strike and a brace from 23-year-old Brazilian Wenderson Galeno.

However, Braga will now return to the Primeira Liga where they continue to distance themselves from the "Big Three" in the upper echelons of the table as they were held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Santa Clara last Sunday.

Following a drab first half at the Estadio de Sao Miguel, the game sparked into life in the 71st minute when Paulo Oliveira put the visitors in front before Lincoln snatched a 95th-minute equaliser to end the Os Acoreanos' run of two consecutive league defeats.

Carlos Carvalhal's side have now managed one win from their last four outings, while dropping points in four of their seven this season, and this shaky form has seen them fall to fifth place in the Primeira Liga table, nine points adrift of league leaders Benfica.

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Meanwhile, Boavista failed to make it two wins from two games in all competitions as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Estoril Praia at the Estadio do Bessa last time out.

Brazilian midfielder Gustavo Sauer converted his penalty midway through the first half to hand the hosts a 1-0 lead heading into the break, before Andre Franco struck in the 71st minute to salvage a point for the newly-promoted side.

Prior to that, Joao Pedro Sousa's men pulled off an impressive comeback to secure a 2-1 win at Pacos de Ferreira in their Taca da Liga Group C curtain-raiser last Thursday.

Boavista head into Sunday's game without a win in each of their most recent four league outings, claiming three draws and losing one since successive wins over Pacos de Ferreira and Santa Clara back in August.

This slump in form has seen Os Axadrezados drop to eighth place in the table, and while they will be seeking to return to winning ways, they face an opposing side who have picked up eight wins and three draws in the last 15 encounters between the teams.

Team News

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Braga head into the game without a few key players as the defensive duo of David Carmo and Rolando continue their spells on the sidelines through injuries.

Spanish international Abel Ruiz is also out of contention for Os Arcebispos after coming off injured midway through the clash against Tondela two Mondays ago.

Vitor Tormena missed the game against Midtjylland last time out after failing to shake off an injury he sustained against Santa Clara and the Brazilian defender is a major doubt this weekend.

Meanwhile, Boavista will take to the pitch without the services of former Nice defender Yanis Hamache, who came off with a 25th-minute injury against Benfica two weeks back.

The Frenchman is joined in the club's injury table by Reggie Cannon, who sustained an injury while on international duty against Mexico in August, while Sporting Lisbon loanee Tiago Ilori also misses out through injury.

However, Os Axadrezados will be boosted by the return of veteran midfielder Javi Garcia, who played the full 90 minutes against Estoril Praia last time out following a one-month injury absence.

Braga possible starting lineup:
Matheus; Tormena, Oliveira, Leite; Fabiano, Mineiro, Musrati, Galeno; Horta, Gonzalez, Medeiros

Boavista possible starting lineup:
Beiranvand; Garcia, Porozo, Abascal; Malheiro, Nathan, Perez, Hamache; Njie, Musa, Sauer

We say: Braga 2-1 Boavista

Following their disappointing draw against Santa Clara, Braga picked up a morale booster last time out courtesy of their first Europa League victory. Boavista, who have enjoyed a decent campaign so far, will be seeking to end their dry spell, but we anticipate the hosts will build on their latest performance and come away with all three points in this one.