Prediction: Real Madrid to win 4-0
Best Odds: 11/1
Real Madrid and Sporting Braga will lock horns with each other in the UEFA Champions League this week. The match between the Spanish club and the Portuguese outfit will be held at the Santiago Bernabeu and is scheduled to kick off at 8 pm UK time on Wednesday.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid are (arguably) the biggest club in the world who tend to win the UEFA Champions League on a regular basis. Madrid reached the semi-finals of Europe’s premier club competition last season and will be determined to go all the way this time.
Madrid are second in the La Liga table at the moment with 29 points from 12 matches. Carlo Ancelotti’s side are two points behind leaders Girona and two points clear of defending champions and bitter rivals Barcelona, who are third. Los Blancos played out a goalless draw with Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabeu in La Liga this past weekend.
Los Blancos are at the top of UEFA Champions League Group C at the moment with nine points from three matches. Madrid are three points clear of second-placed and Italian club Napoli. It is very likely that Ancelotti’s side will end up winning the group.
Team News:
Lunin, Kepa and Diego Pineiro are the three goalkeepers in the squad. Kepa, on loan from Chelsea, will start against Sporting Braga. Daniel Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, Nacho and David Alaba will be the four defenders. Federico Valderde, Eduardo Camavinga and Toni Kroos will be the three midfielders. Rodrygo Joselu and Vinicius Junior will be the three forwards. Jude Bellingham is in the squad, but the England international midfielder had an injury scare this past weekend and is likely to start the match against Braga on the substitutes’ bench.
Sporting Braga
Sporting Braga are not expected to finish in the top two of the UEFA Champions League Group C this season. After all, the Portuguese club have Real Madrid and Napoli in the group. There is also German club 1. FC Union Berlin in Group C. However, there is a chance that Braga could finish above Napoli and end up in the top two.
Artur Jorge’s side are third in Group C at the moment with three points from three matches. Braga are three points behind second-placed Napoli and six points behind leaders Real Madrid. It is going to be hard for Braga, but they should not give up hope.
Braga are fourth in the Portuguese Primeira Liga table at the moment with 20 points from 10 matches. They are two points behind FC Porto in third and are eight points behind leaders Sporting Lisbon.
Team News:
Sporting Braga are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Matheus will be in goal for the Portuguese giants. Mendes, Fonte, Niakate and Borja will be the four defenders. Al-Musrati and Zalazar will be the two holding midfielders. Djalo, R. Horta and Bruma will be the three attacking midfielders and will have Banza upfront leading the line.
Key Factors to Consider
- Real Madrid have won all 3 UEFA Champions League games this season.
- Sporting Braga have won 4 UEFA Champions League games this season (including qualifiers).
- Real Madrid have won 4 and drawn 2 of their last six competitive games.
- Sporting Braga have won 3 and lost 1 of their last six competitive matches.
- Jude Bellingham has scored 3 goals and given 1 assist in 3 UEFA Champions League games for Real Madrid.
Conclusion
Sporting Braga are not a bad team and will be determined to put on a show at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, Real Madrid have the better team and are in brilliant form at the moment. It is very likely that Carlo Ancelotti’s side will pick up all three points from the encounter with ease.
Prediction: Real Madrid to win 4-0
Best Odds: 11/1
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
