Round 34
Braga vs. Benfica
Estádio Municipal de Braga, Braga, Portugal.
17.05.25 at 20:00
Braga vs Benfica: Prediction and odds on the Match on 17 May 2025
Braga will welcome Benfica to the Estádio Municipal de Braga in the 34th round of the Primeira Liga. Who's going to come out on top? Let us check out the match preview, team news and betting odds to place your bets!
Claim Your Welcome Bonus!Braga: Form and Statistics
Form: LDDWW
Braga enters the Primeira Liga finale sitting in fourth place with 65 points in the standings. They are three points behind third-placed FC Porto and have already ensured themselves a Europa League spot for next season as they maintain an 11-point cushion over fifth-placed Vitoria de Guimaraes.
On Saturday, Braga were unfortunate not to have picked up three points in their match against Casa Pia. They were in control of the game, and they even opened the scoring in the 20th minute thanks to Rodrigo Zalazar's effort. However, at the sound of the final whistle, they were on the receiving end of a 2-1 defeat.
This result ended an eight-match unbeaten run in the Primeira Liga. During this period, they picked up five wins and three draws. A return to Estádio Municipal de Braga should see them confident of getting back to the win column and sign out with a bang. At this venue, they have gone seven games without defeat, recording six wins and one draw.
Braga: Team News
Barring any fresh injury news, head coach Carlos Carvalhal should be able to call his best-of-the-best starting lineup this Saturday. He is likely to make some minor tweaks to the starting lineup that lost away to Casa Pia.
We could see Amine El Ouazzani get a nod over Fran Navarro. Rodrigo Zalazar is expected to be the creative hub in midfield, linking up the attack.
🔖 Probable Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Hornicek; Chissumba, Oliveira, Niakate, Gomez; Racic, Moutinho; Horta, Zalazar Martinez, Fernandes; El Ouazzani.
⛔️ Out: Jonatas Noro (achilles tendon injury).
👤 Head coach: Carlos Carvalhal
History of Head-to-Heads
Liga Portugal 2024/2025 
Benfica
Taca de Portugal 2024/2025
Braga
League Cup 2024/2025
Braga
Liga Portugal 2024/2025
Braga
Liga Portugal 2023/2024
Braga
Benfica: Form and Statistics
Form: DWWWD
Benfica are in second place with 79 points in the Primeira Liga standings. They are level on points with defending champions Sporting CP in first place. The visitors can end the season atop the table, but that will require them to score more goals than Sporting CP to better their goal differential.
The Eagles failed to get the job done in the penultimate match against Sporting CP over the weekend. All signs were pointing towards their victory at home, but due to their profligacy in the final third, they could only manage a 1-1 draw to share the spoils.
Bruno Lage's men have been in terrific form in the league. So far, they have gone an impressive 14 games without defeat. During this period, they won 12 times, and the remaining resulted in stalemates. Away from home, they are a force to be reckoned with, winning seven consecutive matches.
Benfica: Team News
This is a very important match for Benfica, and head coach Bruno Lage is not about to take chances. We could see Lage start a strong starting lineup, and that means the same squad that took to the field against Sporting CP is going to feature once more.
There is no fresh injury news to report on at the moment, other than the regular four absentees. This includes Alexander Bah (knee injury), Manu (knee injury), Renato Sanches (muscle injury), and Zeki Amdouni (injury).
Expect another 4-2-3-1 formation with Vangelis Pavlidis leading the attack. Pavlidis is the team's leading top goalscorer with 13 goals. Another influential player for the visitors is Karem Akturkoglu, who has 11 goals and 10 assists in 29 appearances.
🔖 Probable Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Trubin; Araujo, Silva, Otamendi, Carreras; Aursnes, Florentino; Di Maria, Kokcu, Akturkoglu; Pavlidis.
⛔️ Out: Alexander Bah (knee injury), Manu (knee injury), Renato Sanches (muscle injury), Zeki Amdouni (injury).
👤 Head coach: Bruno Lage.
More football predictions
Head-To-Head
In the last 61 meetings, Braga has won 14 times, Benfica has won 37 times, and there have been 10 draws. The goal difference is 108-56 in favor of Benfica.
Braga Latest Games
Braga 
Braga
Santa Clara
Braga
Braga
Braga
Braga
Moreirense
Genk
Braga
Casa Pia
Benfica Latest Games
Benfica
Famalicao
Benfica
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Sporting CP
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Braga vs Benfica: Betting Tips & Odds
- Braga has seen nine of their last 16 home league games end with over 2.5 goals. You can bet on over 2.5 goals for 1.65 at Bet365.
- Benfica is currently on a two-match winning streak against Braga. You can bet on Benfica to win full-time for 1.67 at 1xbet.
- Braga and Benfica has seen three of their last five encounters end with both teams scoring. You can bet on 'both teams to score - yes' for 1.67 at Betway.
Braga vs Benfica match prediction 17 May 2025
Braga won 2-1 in the reverse fixture against Benfica but immediately lost the following two cup games without scoring a single goal. There's reason to believe they will struggle at home against a redemption-seeking and title-chasing Benfica side. Either way, I'm expecting an entertaining affair when these two sides meet.
Benfica can not afford to lose points here. Unlike their opponents, who want to end the season on a high, they are competing for a league title. This is a very important match to them at the end of the day. I don't want to complicate things here, which is why I am backing the visitors to win full-time.
Our match prediction: W2 for a coefficient of 1.67 in the 1xbet bookmaker.
Our betting tip on the match: Goals - Over 2.5 for a coefficient of 1.65 in the Bet365 bookmaker.
Our final betting tip on the match: Both Teams To Score - Yes for a coefficient of 1.67 in the Betway bookmaker.
Other predictions
