Braga and Famalicao get the 2023-24 Portuguese Primeira Liga campaign underway when they square off at the Estadio Braga Municipal on Friday.
Os Arcebispos have already recorded one win on the board this season after beating Serbian outfit Backa Topola in the first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round on Tuesday.
Match preview
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Braga enjoyed an impressive 2022-23 campaign as they finished third in the Primeira Liga standings — their highest league position since also clinching third place in 2020.
Os Arcebispos won 25 of their 34 matches while losing six and claiming three draws to collect 78 points, four points more than fourth-placed Sporting Lisbon just outside the Champions League playoff spot.
Braga also beat Benfica and Nacional to reach the final of the Taca de Portugal but were denied their first piece of silverware since also winning the Taca de Portugal in 2021 as they fell to a 2-0 loss against the Dragoes.
Artur Jorge's men kicked off their 2023-24 campaign on Tuesday, when they thrashed Backa Topola 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round clash.
In a one-sided affair at the Estadio Braga Municipal, Bruma, Pizzi and substitute Alvaro Djalo all found the back of the net to send the Serbian outfit back home empty handed.
This followed a solid pre-season campaign, where they went unbeaten in their six friendly matches, claiming five wins and one draw, which came on July 26 when they came from behind to salvage a 1-1 stalemate against Italian side Roma.
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After showing promise for most of the 2022-23 campaign, an underwhelming end to the season saw Famalicao's hopes of securing European football come to an end in disappointing fashion.
The Vila Nova failed to win any of their final five league matches, picking up just two points from the last 15 available as they finished eight in the table, nine points off the Europa Conference League qualification spot.
They can look back on last season's performance with pride nonetheless, having also reached the semi-finals of the Taca de Portugal before suffering a 5-3 aggregate defeat against eventual winners Porto.
Famalicao would have hoped for a more inspiring start to the new campaign as they suffered a first-round exit from the Taca da Liga qualifiers on July 23 when they were beaten 3-2 by Belenenses at the Estadio do Restelo.
Riccieli and Jhonder Cadiz both found the target to level the scores after Cain Attard's brace put the hosts ahead twice in the game but Duarte Valente converted his penalty in the 11th minute of stoppage time time to hand the Segunda Liga outfit a last-gasp victory.
With that result, the Vila Nova have now failed to win any of their last eight competitive matches, losing six and picking up two draws since posting three consecutive victories against Pacos de Ferreira, Vitoria de Guimaraes and Maritimo respectively back in April.
Breaching opposing defences has not been a worry for Famalicao, who made the net ripple in seven of those eight matches, but they conceded 18 goals and kept just one clean sheet, which certainly does not make for good reading ahead of the new league campaign.
Joao Pedro Sousa's side have also gone five consecutive games on the road since their last victory — losing three and picking up two draws — and will need to up the ante away if they are to enjoy an improved display from the last season.
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Team News
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Braga will head into the season opener with several new faces across the squad, with the likes of Vitor Carvalho, Adrian Marin, Rodrigo Zalazar and veteran defender Jose Fonte in line to make their league debuts.
Experienced forward Rony Lopes has also recently completed a move to the Estadio Braga Municipal and the former Sevilla man could also be handed his debut this weekend.
Should that be the case, he should be joined in attack by Abel Ruiz and Portugal international Ricardo Horta, whose 14 goals and eight assists were instrumental in Braga's successful 2022-23 campaign.
Having spent last season on loan with Famalicao, former Braga man Francisco Moura completed a permanent move to the Vila Nova this summer and the defender could come up against his former employers this weekend.
However, Famalicao will have to cope without Portuguese defender Alexandre Penetra, following his move to Eredivisie outfit AZ Alkmaar.
On the injury front, Sousa will be unable to call upon 23-year-old forward Theo Fonseca, who continues his road to full recovery after suffering an ACL injury last October.
Braga possible starting lineup:
Lima; Gomez, Fonte, Niakate, Borja; Al-Musrati, Zalazar; Lopes, A Horta, Bruma; Ruiz
Famalicao possible starting lineup:
Junior; Aguirregabiria, Riccieli, Haas, Moura; Rodrigues, Sa, Topic; Jaime, Felipe, Cadiz
We say: Braga 3-1 Famalicao
Famalicao head into Friday's curtain-raiser knowing that they have their work cut out as they face a high-flying Braga side whose last home defeat came in February. Os Arcebispos are currently firing on all cylinders and we are backing them to ease to an opening-day victory in front of their home supporters.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
