Sporting Braga v Sporting CP

Sporting Braga v Sporting CP

Saturday March 7th, 2026

Estádio Municipal da Braga 

Matchday 25

The warm up 

There are many questions in life that we'll never know the answers to, for example - do birds enjoy flying? What happens if a cow is dairy intolerant or a squirrel has a nut allergy? Then there are questions we could get an answer to if only anyone could be bothered to ask. Like, do Braga fans bother checking the league table or do they just assume anytime from October onwards that they'll be in fourth? As I write five and a half hours before kick off at home to Estoril, the Fraggles are exactly where Portuguese football has allocated them to be, namely … Fourth. I wonder if they shouldn't do some testing one season and perform a social experiment whereby they let school kids take it in turns to be coach throughout the season just to prove the hypotheses that come May they'd still finish fourth. By the way anyone shouting that they finished 3rd twice between 2019/20 onwards should see me after class for how jokes work. 

From the outside looking in this season feels like a poor one by their standards given they've already lost five times and only lost six in total last season. However they're in the knockout rounds of the Europa League and will face the Hungarian side Ferencvaros the Thursday after this fixture is played and their results in Europe could play a big part in the Portuguese coefficient. So maybe I'm still lemon that I had them to beat AVS at home earlier this campaign and they cost me money. As they say, a fool and his money are easily parted. 

I wonder what other assumptions I could make about Braga. Let's say Horta is top goalscorer… Checks... and yes, Ricardo Horta is top scorer with 12 goals. Zalazar in fairness is one behind on 11 but at the time of writing the point stands, Braga bring with them predictability and stability in equal measure. Oh and this season lots of rain as anyone who saw the footage from the Nottingham Forest game at Fraggle Rock will testify. Where do their fans get any enjoyment from I wonder to myself? Probably from Forest fans thinking that all of Portugal is like the Algarve and getting absolutely drenched. 

Ahead of their trip to Nacional on Matchday 24, as we've established they sit 4th, naturalmente, with a record of played 23, won 12, drawn 6, lost 5, GF 48, GA 22. At home played 11, won 7, drawn 2, lost 2, GF 25, GA 9. Of those 48 scored 26 have come from open play, 8 from set pieces, 11 penalties and 3 own goals. They're outperforming their Xg of 44.9. Alongside the two top scorers already mentioned Pau Victor has 6 league goals, Navarro has 4 and the rest of the goals shared between 9 players not including our old friend own goals. 

Third for most average goals per game on 2.2 and sixth best record for goals conceded averaging just 1 per 90 with 9 clean sheets. First for average possession - 63.2% which stems from their average passes completed of 528. Third for shots on target per game with 5.3 and only the lions have created more and missed more big chances than their totals of 78 and 39 respectively.  

Most penalties awarded with 12 and a conversion rate of 91.7% They're just outperforming their Xg conceded of 23.5. helped in part by conceding only 3 penalties of which only one has been converted. Second lowest average fouls per game on 11.5, fewest bookings on 41 and one of five clubs to have only suffered 2 sending's off. 

When the two sides met at the José Alvalade Braga equalised 6 minutes into additional time from a Zalazar penalty after Luis Suárez opened the scoring and I'm not going to lie, other than I remembered the final score, I don't remember a single thing about it. Too much football played already and we're only just about to fall into March. 

A reminder of how their season was going before the two sides met -

Their campaign started away to Levski Sofia on July 24th in the Europa League qualifiers and the game finished 0-0. At home a 1-0 win after extra time to qualify for the next round. 

Away to CFR Cluj and a 2-1 win with a Gorby brace to take into the home leg. The Portuguese league kicks off and maybe fortunately for Braga their campaign starts against newly promoted Tondela at home with a 3-0 win. Braga's XG 1.98 to 0.78 however the visitors recorded and missed 3 Opta defined big chances. 

CFR Cluj at home results in a 2-0 win, 4-1 on aggregate and then we're back to the league again away to the other newly promoted Alverca. They had five Opta defined big chances and missed them all as they went down 3-0 and they even had the better XG of 2.21 to Braga's 1.50 but nevertheless 6 points from 6 for the northerners who despite the congested fixture list are holding their own on the field. 

Lincoln Imps were thrashed 4-0 away before AVS at home proved a side that could at least take 50% of their big chances and led 2-1 until Braga pulled it back to 2-2 with four minutes remaining. Their XG does suggest however they should have won with 2.08 to the visitors 0.51. 

Wheels back on the rails at least with the visit of Lincoln Imps in the return leg, another 5-1 thrashing to go through on aggregate 9-1. 

Then the wheels came off again, firstly away to Rio Ave where they needed an equaliser 3 minutes from time to again draw 2-2 albeit the XG once more suggesting they should have won with 2.20 against the home sides 1.05. Gil Vicente at home is their first loss of the campaign and this time is Braga with 5 Opta defined big chances and 5 misses. The Xg an almost even 1.42 to 1.26. Vitória away and they took the lead at least but the game finished 1-1 and again Braga guilty of missing 2 of their 3 big chances over 90 minutes. That's 3 points collected from a possible 12. 

Feyenoord the visitors in the Europa League proper and a 1-0 win in a somewhat dull affair. Braga's XG just 0.68 against the Dutch sides 0.27. 

A 1-0 loss at home to Nacional in the league, Ramirez scored after 5 minutes Xg 0.61 to 1.77. Braga missed their sole big chance, Nacional missed 2 of their 3. A trip to Glasgow brought a 2-0 away win to Scottish Champions Celtic with goals from Horta (19) and Martinez (84). Xg in their favour 1.09 to 0.64. Celtic missed both their big chances, Braga scored one of two and we're back up to date before they met at the José Alvalade. 

The Fraggles have been busy little bastards so I'm going to do this competition by competition.

Taça de Portugal 

Round 3 - Bragança A. A Horta goal 7 minutes from time secured a 1-0 win. The home side reduced to ten when Carlos Ferreira shown a straight red a minute into additional time at the end of the 90.

Round 4 - Nacional H. Braga raced to a 3-0 lead before halftime. Horta opening the scoring on 9 and made it 2-0 from the penalty spot on 14. Lagerbielke made it 3 on 43. Baeza made it 3-1 on 53, Ramirez 3-2 on 59. No way back however when Gomez made it 4-2 4 minutes from time. 

Round 5 - Caldas A. Navarro finally put the visitors ahead 4 minutes into the second half and 1-0 quickly became 2-0 just 3 minutes later through Oliveira. Dorgeles made sure of a place in next round just before the hour mark and secured a 3-0 win. 

Round 6 - AD Fafe A. Big cupset on the cards as the home side went 1-0 up through Santos on 41. Daniel made it 2-0 on 69. Dorgeles scored four minutes into additional time but too little too late and any dreams of silverware vanished in a 2-1 defeat 

Taça da Liga 

Quarter finals - Santa Clara H. Braga made extremely light work of the islanders. Five individuals found the net in a 5-0 win - Pau Victor (6), Lelo (23), Navarro (72), Rodrigues (83) and Moscardo (87). Xg 1.40 to 0.65. Six big chances for them scoring and missing 3. Santa missed their only one. 

Semi finals - Benfica. Braga raced to a 2-0 lead with goals from Pau Victor (18) and Zalazar (32). Pavlidis pulled one back from the penalty spot on 63. Lagerbielke made it 3-1 ten minutes before time and the dirty pigeons misery complete when Otamendi sent off for a second yellow 2 minutes before the end of the 90. Xg 2.35 to 1.85 in Braga's favour. They scored 3 of their 5 big chances. Benfica scored 1 of 2. 

Final - Vitória. I don't remember who Vitória beat in their semi final in extra time. Dorgeles put Braga ahead on 16. Samu equalised from the penalty spot on 58. Ndoye with the winner 8 minutes from time. Vitória living up to the translation of their name as they win the Taça da Liga 2-1. 

OK at this juncture I'm going to revise my earlier statement that Braga aren't having a good season to one of - I've clearly not being paying any attention to their season. 

Europa League 

I've mentioned already the qualifiers -

Levski Sofia 0-0 and 1-0.

CFR Cluj 2-1 and 2-0.

Lincoln Red Imps 4-0 and 5-1.

Plus wins against Feyenoord 1-0 and Celtic 2-0.

Matchday 3 - FK Crvena Zvezda H. Navarro opening the scoring on 21. Dorgeles gave them a 2-0 win scoring on 71. Xg 1.73 to 0.41. Braga missed 2 of their 4 big chances. The Serbians failed to fashion a single won. Eight wins from nine including the qualifiers. What idiot wrote they seem to be having an off season? I'm now working out why Portugals co-efficient is better then I thought it was going to be. 

Matchday 4 - Genk H. A brace from Zalazar (29 and 70) and a third from Navarro (85) were still not enough to secure anything against the Belgians as they went down 4-3 at Fraggle Rock. Heymans 45+1, Sor 47, Oh 58 Medina (72) secured a 4-3 away win. Xg 2.55 to 1.09. Genk scored all 3 of their big chances, Braga 2 of their 4.

Matchday 5 - Rangers A. Braga back in Glasgow to take on the blue half of the old firm. Tavernier opened the scoring on 45+2 with a penalty. Martinez equalised on 68 to secure a point in a 1-1 draw. Xg 1.69 to 1.67. Rangers missed 1 of 2 big chances, Braga missed 2 of 3. 

Matchday 6 - Nice A. A Pau Victor goal after 27 minutes secured a 1-0 away win in France. Xg 1.50 to 0.73, Nice missed all 3 of their big chances whilst Braga scored 1 of their 2. A reminder it's only one set of numbers you need in your favour at the end of full time. 

Matchday 7 - Nottingham Forest H. Chaos in the rain as Braga failed to register a single shot on target over the course of the 90. Despite that anomaly they won 1-0 with a Yates own goal on 53. The premier League sides misery compounded by the dismissal of Elliott Anderson in additional time. Xg 0.55 to 1.79. Forest missed all 3 of their big chances. Braga did somehow create one. 

Matchday 8 - Go Ahead Eagles A. Braga travelled to Deventer in Holland for the final group game. I'm a little sad there's no Dutch town called Go Ahead.  I imagine anyone who went was left wishing they hadn't given the 0-0 scoreline and Xg of 0.18 to 0.44. A grand combined total of 0 big chances.

Their record after 8 games was 5 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss. GF 11 GA 5. Good enough for sixth place and a slot in the knockouts. By my maths that's 14 Europa ties, 3 Taça de Liga, 4 Taça de Portugal and here on February 27th Braga have already played more games than most of the Portuguese top flight clubs will play all season with 44 already in the bag. 

Liga 

Matchday 9 - Casa Pia H. A comfortable 4-0 win with goals from Horta (4), Lagerbielke (8), Dorgeles (47) and Zalazar 56 pen). Xg 2.61 to 0.21. Braga scored 4 of 5 big chances. Casa Pia missed their only 1. 

Matchday 10 - Porto A. Mora scored for the leaders on the cusp of half time. Gomez levelled 5 minutes into the second half but Sainz goal in the 78th minute secured a 2-1 loss. Xg a fairly even 0.93 to 0.91. Porto scored their 1 big chance, Braga 1 of their 2.

Matchday 11 - Moreirense H. A Zalazar penalty after 12 and a Horta goal on 70 gave Braga a two goal cushion. Maracas pulled a goal back 9 minutes from time but the home side held on for a 2-1 win. Xg 2.22 to 0.83. Braga scored 2 of their 3 big chances, Moreirense 1 of their 2.

Matchday 12 - Arouca A. Braga ably assisted by own goals from Mantl (25) and Pinto (45+1). Plus two from Horta (23) and Lagerbielke (70) secured a 4-0 win. Xg 0.06 to 2.84. Braga despite scoring 4 times were guilty of missing a massive five of six chances. Unsurprisingly with an Xg of just 0.06 Arouca failed to fashion a single one over the course of the 90.

Matchday 13 - Famalicão A. A Horta opening goal on 23 was cancelled out by Zabiri on 40. Pau Victor (71) with the winner in a 2-1 win. Xg 1.40 to 2.76. Fama missed 2 of 3 big chances, Braga 1 of 2. 

Matchday 14 - Santa Clara H. A fourth straight league win secured from a Horta goal on 41 to secure a 1-0 win. Xg 0.85 to 0.57. Braga converted their sole big chance whereas the islanders missed their sole opportunity. 

Matchday 15 - Estoril A. An apologetic Lacximiant with the goals only game on 43 put an end to Braga's winning run as the canaries won 1-0 through the former Braga B’s players goal. Xg 1.99 to 1.94. some truly woeful finishing from both sides. Estoril missing 4 of 5, Braga missed 4 of 4. 

Matchday 16 - Benfica H. Otamendi gave the dirty pigeons the lead on 28. Zalazar equalised with a penalty on 37. Pau Victor put them 2-1 ahead on the stroke of half time. Aursnes leveller on 52 meant both sides had to settle for a point in a 2-2 draw. Xg 1.70 to 1.23. Braga scored 2 of 3 big chances, Benfica missing 2 of their 3. 

Matchday 17 - Estrela A. Moutinho put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot after 11 minutes only for Kikas to equalise 4 minutes later. Navarro restored the lead on 50 and Zalazar must have thought he'd won the game when he made it 3-1 after 63 minutes. My boy Jovane made it 3-2 on 68 and Marcus made it 3-3 on 72 and that's how it finished in a pulsating game. XG 1.05 to 3.27. Estrela scored both their big chances, Braga scored 3 of their 5.

Matchday 18 - Tondela A. Braga left it super late scoring through Zalazar with a penalty on 90+1 to leave with all 3 points in a 1-0 win. Xg 1.27 to 1.58. The promoted side missed both their big chances, Zalazar scored Braga's only one. 

Matchday 19 - Alverca H. If the other promoted side felt aggrieved the game before then for Alverca the final whistle couldn't come soon enough as they were truly put to the sword. Five different goalscorers in a 5-0 win. Carvalho on 16, Zalazar 22, Pau Victor 29 and a Horta penalty 44 put them 4-0 up at half time. Navarro with the fifth on 78. Xg 3.42 to 0.28. No surprise that Alverca didn't create a single big chance. Maybe a little surprising that Braga scored all 3 of theirs. 

Matchday 20 - AVS A. I think the so called fixture computer likes Braga and they like it in return. Four more goals for a 4-0 win against Portugals bottom side. Horta (6), Zalazar (29) and a Pau Victor brace (79 and 82). Xg 0.78 to 2.27. despite languishing bottom without a win AVS did at least create 3 big chances of which they clearly missed all 3. Depending on your point of view in life Braga either scored or missed 3 of their 6. 

Matchday 21 - Rio Ave H. Their goal tally fell again by one but importantly 3 goals were more than enough for a 3-0 win to give an aggregate score of 12-0 over their last 270 minutes and that's folks, why they tend to finish 4th every year. They win their bread and butter games. Grillitsch made it 1-0 after just 3 minutes. Horta with a brace on 72 and 90+1. Xg 2.82 to 0.15. no big chances for Ave. Braga as per the previous round missing or scoring 3 of 6 depending on your world point of view. I think Rio Ave are bang in trouble this season even with two and a half months to go. 

Matchday 22 - Gil Vicente A. The new pretenders to Braga's eternal fourth place crown. Goals from Varela (64) and Garcia (75) reversed Horta’s opener for Braga after 20 minutes and the Barcelos based side won 2-1. Xg 1.21 to 0.65. Gil converted both their big chances, Braga left to rue their only 1. 

Matchday 23 - Vitória H. The Fraggles put looking to avenge defeat in the final of the Taça da Liga. Zalazar with a 16th minute penalty put them 1-0 ahead before Barisic turned the ball into his own net two minutes later to make it 1-1. Horta (32) makes it 2-1, Silva (53) made it 2-2. Revenge finally secured when Zalazar completed his brace on 56. Xg 2.68 to 1.19. For a third time in four matches Braga creating a massive six chances, scoring three, missing three. I'm running out of ways to write the same thing. Vitória missed 1 of 2. Of course losing in the final isn't going to be wiped out by 3 points at home but it keeps Gil 2 points behind going into Matchday 23. 

Matchday 24 - Nacional A. 

Winter Transfers 

Incoming 

Demir Tiknaz from Beşiktaş for £5.8 million 

Adrian Leon Barisic on loan from Basel

Samy Jr. Merheg from Deportivo Pereira for free

Outgoing 

João Marques to Casa Pia on loan

Afonso Patrao to Westerlo for £183,000

In the markets 

Sporting Braga TBC

Draw TBC 

Sporting CP TBC