Sporting Braga vs Famalicao Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Portuguese Primeira Liga
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THE FACTS
When is Sporting Braga vs Famalicao on and what time does it start? Sporting Braga vs Famalicao will take place on Friday 11th August, 2023 – 20:15 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Sporting Braga vs Famalicao? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Sporting Braga vs Famalicao on in the UK? Some Portuguese Primeira Liga matches are televised on either TNT Sports or Viaplay Sports in the UK so it is worth checking their schedules
Where can I Sporting Braga vs Famalicao in the UK? If televised on either TNT Sports or Viaplay Sports, the match can be streamed on their respective streaming platforms
THE LOWDOWN
SPORTING BRAGA
Prior to the 2022/23 campaign, Sporting Braga were coached impressively by former Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea City boss Carlos Carvalhal. Carvalhal talked of implementing a ‘formation-less’ style and system which did help Braga push for a top three finish. However, following his departure last summer, things became a lot better and more effective under the management of Artur Jorge. Jorge remains in charge after they finished third in the Primeira Liga and qualified for the UEFA Champions League.
Partially owned by QSI, the same owners as Paris Saint-Germain, The Archbishops have a very ambitious set up, both on and off the pitch, and will be aiming for a run into Europe this season. They come into this on the back of an impressive 3-0 hammering of Backa Topola in the first-leg of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie during the midweek. That result, in which they did play their full strength team, means they will be able to name their full strength side for this one in the knowledge that progression into the playoffs is pretty much assured.
FAMALICAO
Famalicao, since early last season in September, Joao Pedro Sousa has been back in charge after being the assistant manager in the 2009/10 campaign and then spending two years in charge between 2019 and 2021, following his time as Marco Silva’s assistant manager at Everton, Watford, Hull City, Olympiacos, Sporting CP and Estoril. Silva’s fluent and open style of football, building play up from the back, is something that Famalicao tried to implement under the management of Sousa last season, and they performed very well, relatively, last season.
Last season, Famalicao finished eighth in the Primeira Liga table, just two places below Vitoria, who qualified for the UEFA Europa Conference League. They had started with just one win in their opening seven matches under Sousa but actually managed to collect 40 points in their next 27 matches. They will be hoping to extrapolate their general form last season over the course of this whole season and push into the top six this time around, with their highest ever finish being sixth under, of course, the management of Joao Pedro Sousa in 2020.
THE TEAM NEWS
SPORTING BRAGA
Artur Jorge’s Sporting Braga have bucked the trend of Portuguese football in recent years, which is often low-scoring and averaging at way under 2.5 goals per game. His preference is a fluid 4-3-3 system with the front three of Ricardo Horta, Bruma and Abel Ruiz of utmost importance.
As mentioned, there may be a temptation for Jorge to rest and rotate his players ahead of the second-leg trip to Serbia in midweek but that is now unlikely with a five day gap in between this opening day clash at home to Famalicao and that return match against Backa Topola.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Matheus; Gomez, Fonte, Niakate, Borja; Carvalho, Pizzi, Al-Musrati; Bruma, Ruiz, Horta
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Tormena (Injury)
FAMALICAO
Joao Pedro Sousa, much like Marco Silva, prefers a 4-2-3-1 system with youth the core of their side. The exciting signings of right-back Nathan and Portugal under-21 international Henrique Araujo are likely to come straight into the eleven for the opening day.
The irritation for Sousa and Famalicao is their one and only injury concern as it stands, winger Theo Fonseca, who is still out at the start of this campaign due to an ACL injury.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Luiz Junior; Nathan, Riccieli, Mihaj, Moura; Topic, Youssouf; Jaime, Sa, Puma; Araujo
UNAVAILABLE: Fonseca (Injury)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
These are two of the more proactive and progressive, stylistically, footballing sides in the Portuguese top-flight and with that in mind, therefore, this should be quite an entertaining encounter. The visitors, with their young and energetic squad, will set about pressing their impressive opposition and, given their European excursions in midweek, that could have an impact on Braga. The hosts remain the favourites for this one but it could well be a very entertaining way to kick off the 2023/24 Primeira Liga campaign.
TIP: BRAGA TO WIN & OVER 2.5 GOALS
