- Sporting are undefeated in all ten of their matches across all competitions, winning seven and drawing three.
- SC Braga are undefeated at home in all competitions this term, winning four and drawing zero from four.
- Sporting are unbeaten in three away fixtures across all competitions, winning one and drawing two. They have two wins and no defeats against Braga across their last five Primeira Liga meetings.
Draw and Under 2.5 goals the smart alternatives
Sporting Clube de Portugal are the bookmakers' favourites for Friday night's Primeira Liga clash at Estadio Municipal de Braga at around 6/5, which seems slightly short considering Braga are at 11/5 and the draw at 47/20. The Leões come into this fixture coming off back-to-back draws after last week's 1-1 away at Famalicao followed a 2-2 home draw with FC Arouca the previous weekend in the Primeira Liga.
The Guerreiros do Minho held Santa Clara to a 0-0 draw away last weekend and came back home to beat Estoril Praia 1-0 in their last fixture. Carlos Vicens' men have been solid, but not spectacular across their last ten matches in all competitions, posting three wins, one draw and one defeat in their last five.
The last time these two teams met in the Primeira Liga, it was a 2-2 draw at this venue and Braga have failed to beat Sporting in either of their two previous home fixtures. However, Sporting have played some of their best footy of the season in the last couple of weeks so we like them to eke out a win here, albeit in a tight affair.
Sporting should edge it, but it will be tight
Luis Suarez has been Sporting's main man up top of late, the Uruguayan ace has scored six of Sporting's 12 goals across their last five matches. Pau Victor has chipped in with two goals in five for Braga and will make a reliable target for Sporting's defence to keep tabs on.
Rui Borges has the Leões set up as a flexible and high intensity unit that can change shape and hurt teams in transition, which may just be the difference here against Braga, who like to dominate the ball and play a more proactive game. Their wide build-up and high pressing game is easy to play when they lose the ball, but the midfield battle will decide who controls the tempo and that will be the story of this game.
Under 2.5 goals at 83/100 is a smart alternative for this one, as the head-to-head has tended to favour tight fixtures of late. The away side has more at stake this season in both the Champions League and Primeira Liga, but Braga have a lot of momentum from a successful European run, so they shouldn't be underestimated.
