Preview: Braga vs. Sporting Lisboa - predictions, team news, lineups

As the Primeira Liga season kicks off this weekend, Braga entertain Sporting Lisbon Definitely on Sunday with a selection of games.

After winning the league title in the 2020-21 season, Os Leoes trailed six points last season, but the hosts ultimately finished fourth, 20 points behind their opponents on Sunday.

match preview

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Braga’s strong position in the Primeira Liga continued last season, as they maintained their lead outside Portugal’s Big Three, ultimately finishing 14 points behind fifth-placed Gil Vicente, just above the previous year’s 65 points. .

Three-game winner Os Arcebispos faced Famarricao on the final day, but although they had a two-goal lead, they were unable to finish high. Ricardo Alter When Vitinhaas Simon Banza braces and Bruno Rodriguez The goal saw them condemned to a 3–2 defeat.

After reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League and eventually dropping out at the hands of Rangers, they again finished fourth in the top flight. Carlos Carvalhal Finishing his two-year term as director in the summer, Arthur Jorgewho has made more than 200 appearances for Braga in his playing career, has now been promoted to the first-team hot seat.

Jorge’s newly appointed Os Arcebispos got off to a head start to pre-season with back-to-back victories over Arouca, Middlesbrough and AFC Bournemouth before losing to Portimonense.

After completing their preparations with a 2-1 win over Celta Vigo in La Liga, Braga hope to kick off their hopes of a top-three finish this year with a striking first-day win.

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Sporting Lisbon head to the Estadio Municipal to start the season with a win in their bid to reclaim the Primeira Liga title.

After winning the Portuguese top flight for the 19th time in the 2020-21 season, Ruben AmorimThe team set out to retain the crown last season and continued to battle throughout the campaign, eventually finishing second despite matching the previous campaign’s total of 85 points.

With Porto leading the way for most of the season, Os Leoes had to close the six-point gap in their final five games, but suffered a detrimental defeat at the hands of Lisbon rivals Benfica. The defending champions ultimately fell short as Porto won the title on the penultimate day despite winning their last four matches.

The capital side, which turned its attention to a new term after failing to win a trophy, beat Roma and began preparations with draws against Union Sanjiroise and Villarreal before defeating them at the hands of Portimonense and Sevilla. .

After a draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Pedro Goncalves Having scored a goal from the penalty spot, Amorim’s men are eager to start their title pursuit at the forefront with a win to start the season starting with a victory on Day One.

Braga’s preseason form:

Sporting Lisbon’s pre-season form:

team news

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Braga head into new season without a defender David Carmoleft for Porto in the summer and saw Os Arcebispos receive the second highest transfer fee of all time.

in his absence, Vitor Tormena When Paulo Oliveira It should be important in the center of the back 4, Ali Musrati When Andre Alter Continued performance in midfield.

New signing Simon Banza could be placed at the top of the pitch from the first match, but Abel LewisVitinya, Diego ReinesRicardo Alter, Rodrigo Gomez Everyone competes for attack spots.

As a key midfielder, there will be some changes to the Sporting Lisbon team from last season Joan Parinha Left to join Fulham, but the attacker Gonzalo Prata and defender Zuhair Fedal also left Pablo Sarabia He also returned to Paris Saint-Germain after a loan period.

As a defender, Amorim is stepping up his options with some signatures. Jeremiah St Just Arrive at Estadio do Dragao with the midfielder Hidemasa Morita and creative attackers Rocinha When Francisco Trincaoin the meantime Pedro PoloThe transfer from Manchester City was made permanent.

Pedro Goncalves has scored 31 league goals in the last two seasons and should continue to play an important role in the top three. Paulinho, Marcus Edwards, Nuno Santos When Islam Slimani to fight for the final two places.

First choice goalkeeper Antonio Adam nearly missed due to injury, Franco Israel Weekends should be operated between bars.

Braga’s possible starting line-up:
Mateus; Gomez, Oliveira, Tormena, Sequeira. Musrati, Orta, Castro. R Alter, Banza, Reines

Starting line-up for Sporting Lisbon:
Israel; Neto, Coates, Inacio. Poro, Nunez, Ugarte, Wraith.Goncalves, Paulinho, Trincao

We say: Braga 1-2 Sporting Lisbon

Sunday will undoubtedly be a tough opening test for Sporting Lisbon against one of the strongest teams in the Primeira Liga, but we will see Rubén Amorim’s side secure all three points.

With Benfica already on three points, Os Leoes understand the importance of a strong start in the title fight and hope to win by a narrow margin at home.

Click here for the most probable results, scoreline and other data analysis for this match.

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