Braga will host Santa Clara in the Taca de Portugal quarter-finals on Friday hoping to reach the last four for the second time in the last three years.

Meanwhile, Santa Clara sneaked through their last-16 tie with Moreirense last week as an 87th-minute winner secured a 2-1 victory away from home.

Match preview

Carlos Carvalhal, now in charge of Sporting Braga, pictured in June 2020 © Reuters

Braga got back to winning ways as they secured a slender 1-0 victory over Gil Vicente in the Primeira Liga on Tuesday night.

In a game with little goalmouth action, the only shot on target came from Iuri Medeiros who swept the ball past Vicente stopper Denis in the 73rd minute to claim all three points for Carlos Carvalhal's side, who have now moved up to fourth in the table.

Despite losing the Taca da Liga final to Sporting Lisbon last weekend, Braga have waltzed their way through to the last eight of this season's Taca de Portugal, winning all three matches by an aggregate score of 14-1.

Os Arcebispos will fancy their chances of reaching the latter stages of another domestic competition this season, and victory on Friday would move them one step closer to claiming their first Taca de Portugal title since the 2015-16 campaign.

Daniel Ramos, now in charge of Santa Clara, pictured as Boavista boss in June 2020 © Reuters

Santa Clara ended a run of five league matches without a win as they secured a 2-1 victory away at Rio Ave on Monday evening.

An 89th-minute strike from Japanese debutant Hidemasa Morita sealed all three points for Daniel Ramos's side, who have now moved up to eighth in the Primeira Liga, five points clear of the relegation zone.

The Azoreans now turn their attention to the Taca de Portugal where they face a Braga side that they have beaten in both of their last two meetings, most recently winning 1-0 away from home in September 2020.

Successive victories away at Braga would see Santa Clara reach the semi-finals of the competition for the first time in their history.

Braga Taca de Portugal form: WWW
Braga form (all competitions): WWLWLW

Santa Clara Taca de Portugal form: WWW
Santa Clara form (all competitions): LLDDLW

Team News

Braga's Paulinho celebrates scoring against Leicester City in the Europa League on November 26, 2020 © Reuters

Experienced forward Rui Fonte and left-back Francisco Moura are both unavailable for Braga, as the pair continue to recover from cruciate ligament injuries.

Striker Paulinho, who started his first game in six matches against Gil Vicente after recovering from a knee injury, is likely to start once again up front.

Santa Clara defender Cristian Gonzalez, midfielder Julio Romao and winger Jean Patric are all unavailable with injuries.

Winger Carlos Junior, who scored the opener in their victory at Rio Ave, is set to remain in the side on the right, with Ukra occupying the left-flank.

Braga possible starting lineup:Lineup here
Matheus; Tormena, Carmo, Sequeira; Esgaio, Musrati, Castro, Galeno; Horta, Fransergio; Paulinho

Santa Clara possible starting lineup:
Marco; Ramos, Cardoso, Villanueva, Lucas; Carvalho, Nene; Carlos, Lincoln, Ukra; Moghanlou

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We say: Braga 2-0 Santa Clara

Santa Clara will fancy their chances of beating a Braga side that have struggled against them in recent years. However, the hosts are desperate to make it to another cup final and be in with a chance of claiming silverware in May, and they should have enough quality in the final third to edge past the visitors on Friday.

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