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Verdict: Benfica win
Finest Odds: 4/7
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
In what’s a heavyweight Portuguese showdown on Wednesday night time, Benfica will welcome Braga to the Estadio da Luz.
Benfica
Beginning with the hosts, making actual historical past final season as they bought their palms on a primary home crown since 2019, Benfica are having fun with one other main Primeira Liga romp this time round. Opening up the New Yr with one other eye-catching show as they cruised their strategy to a 3-0 victory towards Arouca, Roger Schmidt’s aspect have gained every of their final 5 straight appearances throughout all competitions. Receiving a string of plaudits from throughout the continent this 12 months and guaranteeing a Europa League knockout stage ticket, the Eagles have additionally not suffered a single loss since means again on November eighth. Signing off 2023 with one other routine 3-0 win towards Famalicao, Benfica also needs to be excited by their persevering with success on residence soil. Together with a serious assertion on November twelfth as they clinched a 2-1 victory towards historic rivals Sporting Lisbon, Schmidt’s males have bagged 15 strikes of their final six showdowns on the Estadio da Luz.
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All nonetheless coping with respective long-term harm points, Benfica will as soon as once more be unable to name upon the trio of Alexander Bah, Juan Bernat and former Ajax ace David Neres on Wednesday night time. Likewise, Schmidt’s aspect are nonetheless sweating over the health of Denmark worldwide Casper Tengstedt.
Though ex-Fiorentina striker Arthur Cabral might need notched only a single Primeira Liga strike this season, the 25-year-old ought to spearhead Benfica’s cost right here. Though Angel Di Maria may be heading for the Lisbon exit subsequent summer time, the previous Actual Madrid talisman will be a part of Cabral within the closing third.
Braga
As for the guests, whereas Braga may nonetheless have their sights set on clinching one other Champions League ticket in 2024, Arthur Jorge’s males might be bracing themselves for a heavyweight problem right here. Opening the New Yr with last-gasp heartbreak on residence soil as they ultimately needed to accept a 1-1 stalemate towards Guimaraes, the Archbishops have recorded only a single win from any of their earlier 4 appearances towards top-flight opposition. Hit with a 1-0 defeat once they welcomed Benfica to the Estadio Municipal de Braga for a Primeira Liga showdown again on December seventeenth, Jorge’s males also needs to be nervous by a nightmare report in Lisbon. Together with an notorious 6-1 drumming once they travelled to the defending champions again in November 2021, Braga have recorded only a pair of wins on the Estadio da Luz over the previous decade.
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Dealt an enormous double blow, Braga might be unable to name upon each Simon Banza and Sikou Niakate with the duo respectively that includes at this month’s Africa Cup of Nations. Though Alvaro Djalo might need returned from an harm subject final week, the 24-year-old will doubtless accept one other spot on the bench right here.
Whereas one-time Barcelona starlet Abel Ruiz might need failed to seek out the web in any of his final 14 straight appearances throughout all competitions, the Spain U21 worldwide will spearhead Braga’s assault in Banza’s absence.
Key Elements to Take into account
When Benfica and Braga final met again on December seventeenth, the Eagles secured a 1-0 victory on the street.
Likewise, Benfica have misplaced only a pair of residence fixtures towards Braga over the previous decade.
Benfica have gained all of their earlier 5 appearances throughout all competitions by an mixture rating of 14-2.
Braga have recorded only a single victory from any of their final 4 appearances towards top-flight opposition.
The Archbishops have recorded only a single clear sheet on their travels since again on October nineteenth.
Conclusion
Having fun with what has been one other stellar home romp this season, Benfica will definitely be seeking to make one other assertion right here. Excited to show their consideration again to Taca de Portugal duties in midweek, the Eagles might be excited by an attention-grabbing report towards Braga. Profitable back-to-back conferences on the Estadio da Luz by an mixture rating of 7-1, we expect the same residence victory for the defending Primeira Liga champions right here.
Verdict: Benfica win
Finest Odds: 4/7
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
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