SPORTING CP v BRAGA
Primeira Liga
Sunday 17th February 2019
Kickoff: 2000hrs
Pick: Sporting CP AH0
Bookmaker: Marathonbet
Odds: 1.95 (odds taken at 01:12 GMT, 17 Feb 2019)
Next up is a top four clash in the Portuguese top flight with 4th placed Sporting CP taking on Sporting Braga as the betting tips continue at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon with a precious three points up for grabs for both teams as they look to secure European positions in the Primeira Liga.
Primeira Liga Betting at Marathonbet
Sporting CP Prediction
Sporting CP suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat at home to Spanish side Villarreal in the first leg of the round of 16 in the Europa League during the week, so Sporting CP manager Marcel Keizer will be demanding a response from his players ahead of this clash.
On the domestic front, Sporting CP have lost just once in their last five matches in the Portuguese top flight which was a 4-2 loss at home to second placed Benfica, but the hosts will have been boosted by recent wins against Moreirense and Feirense with 2-1 and 3-1 wins respectively along with draws against league leaders, Porto and Vitoria Setubal.
Sporting CP also possess a very strong record at their Estádio José Alvalade as the hosts have suffered just one defeat on home soil all season amidst an overall and impressive record of 9-1-1 25/11 which includes four clean sheets and scoring in 10 of their 11 home matches to date.
Highly rated forward Dost (12 goals) leads the way and is supported by former Manchester united forward, Nani (7 goals).
- Sporting CP have lost just 1 of their 11 home matches in the Primeira Liga
- Sporting CP have scored in 10 of their 11 home matches to date
- Braga have lost just 1 of their last 5 away matches
Braga Prediction
Sporting Braga have also been in good form in recent weeks as the visitors bring a four-match winning streak into Sunday’s clash at Sporting CP having swept aside Nacional, Santa Clara, Desportivo Aves and Chaves.
However, all four wins were against teams that are situated mid-table or below in the Primeira Liga and they’re expected to have their work cut out against a Sporting CP outfit who are more than likely still smarting from their midweek Europa League defeat to Villarreal.
The visitors have been quite solid on their travels lately though as they’ve lost just once in their last five matches on the road which was a heavy 6-2 loss at Benfica, but wins at Tondela, Nacional and Desportivo Aves have kept Braga in the frame for a possible Champions League or Europa League qualifying spot.
Sporting Braga’s away record stands at 5-3-2 17/12 which is a reasonable return on the road, and there’s quite a reasonable possibility that this match could end up a draw.
Betting Tips Verdict
With that in mind, and keeping the draw on-side, I recommend backing Sporting CP with the draw no bet option in this one.
