Braga vs Benfica Predictions 30 Decembrie 2022
Braga vs Benfica predictions for Friday’s Primeira Liga contest at the Estadio Municipal. Benfica usually get the job done when they travel to Braga so will it be any different this week? Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
- Benfica have won 12 and drawn one of their 13 Primeira Liga games this season.
- Braga have lost their last two home league games without scoring.
- Goncalo Ramos has scored eight goals in his last six starts for club and country.
Braga facing heat from blistering Benfica
Benfica are unlikely to pass on the opportunity to take three points against an out-of-form Sporting Braga side at the Quarry on Friday.
The Arsenalistas began the season in scintillating fashion with form that suggested they could break into the top three, but three defeats in their last six league games has seen Sporting Lisbon close the gap. Two of those three losses came in home games to Casa Pia and Chaves – two capable mid-table sides but possessing nowhere near the quality that Benfica have in abundance.
Roger Schmidt’s men got back into competitive action with a 1-1 Taca da Liga draw with Moreirense last week and therefore bowed out of that competition. But after streaking clear at the Primeira Liga summit and finishing top of a tough Champions League group featuring PSG and Juventus, they clearly have bigger fish to fry.
Ramos a reliable anytime goalscorer option
Benfica will have left-sided star Joao Mario back in the fold after he recovered from a foot problem, but David Neres might miss out. The Eagles are currently receiving bids for a number of their players, but Enzo Fernandez looks likely to be gone before Goncalo Ramos’ time in Lisbon is up.
Ramos returned from Qatar with his reputation enhanced by that round-of-16 hat-trick against Switzerland and is an obvious candidate to score given he has bagged eight in his last six starts for club and country.
In summary, there is little prospect of Benfica, who have won 12 of their 13 league games this term, being held by Braga. The hosts were shaken to the core in a 5-0 cup defeat to Sporting Lisbon last week and will make changes in a bid to rediscover their early-season form. A 2-0 away win is the preferred correct score play as the hosts have scored only three goals in their last four home contests while Benfica average 1.83 goals in Primeira Liga road games this term.