Sporting Braga vs Red Star Belgrade
8 December 2000hrs
Football – Europe – Europa League
Pick Over 2.5 goals
Bookmaker Betway
Odds: 7/8 odds taken 2000 GMT, Tuesday 7 December
Three teams can still qualify for the knockout phase from Group F so it’s all to play for as second place Braga host current group leaders Red Star Belgrade.
Table of Contents
Sporting Braga Preview – Can Braga continue their excellent home form and ensure they finish top of the section?
Having started the group campaign with defeat in Belgrade, Braga now know that if they are to guarantee themselves a place in the knockout stages. Not only that, but they would actually finish top and go all the way through to the last-16, bypassing the playoff. It makes it pretty straightforward for Carlos Carvalhal and his players. Braga had responded in tremendous fashion following that opening round defeat by winning their next three – that included home wins against Midtjylland and Ludogorets, as well as beating the Bulgarians on the road.
Braga could have ensured their place in the knockout phase had they avoided defeat in Denmark in their last game but conceded a goal in added time to go down 3-2.
Braga do bring in strong form overall into this game, winning their last five at home and unbeaten in their last 10 across all competitions. The only team to have beaten them at home this season is Sporting Lisbon so it shows how consistent they are here. They’re also scoring plenty of goals with 19 of them in their last five home games.
A big contributor to that is the impressive Ricardo Horta. He’s scored five in last three games and is already well on course to have his most productive season.
Red Star Belgrade Preview – Will Red Star avoid defeat and guarantee their place in the knockout phase?
Red Star a team who will feel they should be competing in the Champions League but their hopes of playing in the premier club competition in Europe were put to bed by Sheriff this season. It left them facing Europa League football for a second straight campaign and they are now looking to repeat their feat of last season which seen them make the knockout stages only to lose out some what unfortunately to AC Milan on away goals.
A draw would be enough to see them do that but it wouldn’t guarantee them first place if Midtjylland were to win due to the Danes having the better head to head record. So you feel the Serbian champions will be going out for the win.
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Like their opponents on Thursday, Red Star have taken maximum points from Ludogorets – adding to the three points they took off Braga on match day one. The big surprise is the home defeat to the Danish champions – without that they would already be home and hosed.
They come into this game looking for an eighth straight win in all competitions with the last defeat coming in that aforementioned group game. It’s also their only loss at home in the Europa League in the last 10 games – a run which stretches back to 2017.
Sporting Braga vs Red Star Belgrade Betting Advice
It really is winner takes all here. Although a draw could be good enough for Red Star to finish top they will be expecting Midtjylland to win in Bulgaria. As such, it should make for a really entertaining contest – especially as the two teams are also in very good form and will fancy their respective chances.
The first contest was very closely matched and this should be another game where there is little to choose between the two.
Key Facts – Sporting Braga vs Red Star Belgrade Betting Tip
- Braga are unbeaten in their last 10 home games in all competitions, winning eight of them
- Red Star Belgrade are looking for an eighth straight win
- The Serbian champions were 2-1 winners when the teams met in the reverse picture
With it being hard to separate Braga and Red Star, and with the visitors undefeated in their last six on the road in tis competition I’m happy to side with the goal markets. Seven of Braga’s last nine home games have had at least three goals in them, as have seven of Red Star’s last 10. Back over 2.5 goals here.
Best Betting Odds for Sporting Braga vs Red Star Belgrade
