Preview: Braga vs. Pacos de Ferreira - prediction, team news, lineups

Fresh off the back of picking up their third consecutive win in all competitions, Braga get their Taca da Liga campaign underway on Thursday when they play host to Pacos de Ferreira at the Estadio Municipal de Braga.

The visitors are currently rock-bottom in Group C following a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Boavista in September's curtain-raiser and will be looking to get their campaign up and running.

Match preview

© Reuters

Braga maintained their string of superb performances as they protected their slender lead for most of the game to secure a 1-0 win away to Gil Vicente last Monday.

In an end-to-end affair at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos, the visitors took the lead inside the opening four minutes of the game through Portuguese forward Vitor Oliveira before putting on a defensive show of class to see out the win.

Os Arcebispos are currently unbeaten in each of their most recent seven games in all competitions, picking up five wins and two draws since a 2-1 defeat against Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League on September 16.

This solid run has been in no small part down to their impressive display at the attacking end of the pitch, where they have netted 16 goals in that time, while shipping five at the opposite end of the pitch.

Carlos Carvalhal's men now turn their attention to the Taca da Liga, where they were denied a second title win last season when they fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Sporting Lisbon in January's final courtesy of Pedro Porro's 41st-minute strike.

Pacos de Ferreira, on the other hand, booked their place in this season's Taca da Liga group stages when they brushed aside Gil Vicente on penalties following a 1-1 draw in regular time in July's final qualifying round.

However, they were denied a dream start to their cup campaign as they fell to a 2-1 loss against Boavista in their Group C curtain-raiser, where Yusupha Njie scored to cancel out Joao Pedro Silva's opener before Gustavo Sauer netted in the 73rd minute to complete the comeback.

After a blistering start to the season, where they picked up three wins from their opening three outings in all competitions, Pacos de Ferreira appear to have run out of steam in recent weeks as they have managed just one win from their most recent seven outings.

This win came two Sundays ago versus lowly Aguias Moradal in the third round of the Taca de Portugal, where Ze Uilton, Flavio Ramos and Silva were on target to send them through to the next round.

While Jorge Simao will hope his side can end this dry spell and get their cup campaign up and running, next up is an opposing side who are unbeaten in all but one of the most recent six meetings between the sides, picking up three wins and one draw in that time.

Team News

© Reuters

Vitor Tormena is a doubt for the hosts after the Brazilian defender came off with an injury late in the game against Gil Vicente last time out.

Should the 25-year-old fail to shake off his injury, Benfica loanee Chiquinho could come into the fold for his third starting appearance of the season.

Portuguese youngster Oliveira was handed his second appearance by Carvalhal and after his stellar performance, the 21-year-old could retain his spot in the starting XI.

Meanwhile, Pacos de Ferreira will take to the pitch without the services of Joao Vigario as the Portuguese defender continues his spell on the sidelines after sustaining a knee problem back in August.

Nuno Santos, who has netted three goals in the Primeira Liga this term, will play no part in the game after receiving his marching orders against Arouca last time out, while 27-year-old Brazilian Marco Baixinho was hauled off with a ninth-minute injury.

Having missed five games through injuries, Fernando Fonseca returned to the fold in the aforementioned game where he featured for the full 90 minutes and we expect the 24-year-old to handle business in defence for the second game running.

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

Pacos de Ferreira possible starting lineup:
Ferreira; Fonseca, Ramos, Maracas, Antunes; Eustaquio, Carlos; Ferreira, Delgado, Silva; Denilson

We say: Braga 2-0 Pacos de Ferreira

After stumbling into the new season, Braga appear to have found their rhythm as they head into the game on a run of five wins and two draws from their last seven outings. Given the gulf in form between the two sides, we are tipping Braga to come away with all three points on Thursday.