Preview: Braga vs. Vitoria de Guimaraes - prediction, team news, lineups

Braga will be looking to build on last week's thrilling 3-2 victory at Moreirense when they welcome Vitoria de Guimaraes to the Braga Municipal on Sunday.

The visitors will head into the game with the aim of getting one over their hosts, who are currently on a five-game winning streak in this fixture.

Match preview

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Taca de Portugal champions Braga returned to winning ways last time out when they withstood a late comeback scare to claim a 3-2 victory over Moreirense.

In a frenetic and action-packed contest, Moreirense looked set to pick up a point when quickfire goals from Steven Vitoria and Paulinho Mota in the final 10 minutes of normal time levelled the scores after Fabio Martins and Iuri Medeiros had put Braga two goals up, but Ricardo Horta popped up in the 95th minute to grab a dramatic winner.

This followed a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Sporting Lisbon two Saturdays ago when Abel Ruiz grabbed a 92nd-minute consolation goal after Jovane Cabral and Pedro Goncalves put the reigning champions two goals ahead.

Carlos Carvalhal's side have now picked up six points from a possible nine and will look to avoid more dropped points to keep abreast with the sides at the top of the table.

Meanwhile, Vitoria picked up their first win of the new season last Sunday when they cruised to an emphatic 4-0 win over Vizela on home turf.

With the scores level going into the break, Os Vimaranenses put on a clinical team performance in the second half as Andre Andre, Oscar Estupinan, Marcus Edwards and Falaye Sacko were on target to condemn the newly-promoted side to their second defeat of the season.

Prior to that, Vitoria were on a run of six games without a win in the Primeira Liga, with their last win coming back in April when they beat Moreirense 2-0.

With one win and one draw from their opening three games, Pepa will be impressed with his side's positive start to the season and will hope last week's performance can serve as a springboard for a fine run of form.

However, next up is the daunting task of taking on an opposing side who have won each of the last five meetings and are unbeaten in 10 of the last 11.

Team News

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Carvalhal will be unable to call upon the services of left-back Francisco Moura, who is yet to feature this year after rupturing his cruciate ligament back in November 2020.

He is joined on the club's injury table by David Carmo and Andre Castro, who are presently recovering from ankle and groin injuries respectively.

Nuno Sequeira was hooked off with a 22nd-minute injury against Maritimo three weeks ago and is also out of contention for Sunday's game.

Meanwhile, Vitoria will be boosted by the return of Alfa Semedo, who is expected to slot right into the middle of the park having served his one-match ban for picking up a red card in the game against Estoril Praia two Fridays ago.

However, first-choice goalkeeper Bruno Varela and striker Joseph Amoah remain on the sidelines through knee and ankle injuries respectively.

Braga possible starting lineup:
Matheus; Oliveira, Silva, Tormena; Fabiano, Musrati, Fransergio, Galeno; Piazon, Ruiz, Martins

Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:
Trmal; Sacko, Fernandes, Borevkovic, Soares; Almeida, Semedo, Andre; Rochinha, Estupinan, Quaresma

We say: Braga 2-1 Vitoria de Guimaraes

Fresh off the back of picking up their first win of the season, Vitoria will head into Sunday's game full of confidence and in high spirits. However, looking at the trend of results between the sides over the last four years, we anticipate Braga will come away with all three points.