After the three-week international break, both Braga and Sporting CP will hope to maintain their recent form when they meet at Estadio Municipal de Braga on Friday night in the Primeira Liga.
The hosts have 11 points from six games, but they have played one game fewer than most of their rivals and sit in sixth. Sporting are four points and three places better off in the Primeira Liga heading into the resumption.
Five of the last 10 meetings between the two clubs have finished level and another close encounter is expected this week.
Braga v Sporting CP Tips Summary
Best Bet - Draw @ 21/10
Alternative Bet - Both teams to score @ 4/5
Bet Builder - Luis Suarez to score, Pau Victor to score & Geny Catamo 1+ shots on target @ 18/1
Braga v Sporting CP Prediction
Best Bet: Draw @ 21/10
Only Estrela have got the better of Braga this season in all competitions and Carlos Vicens' side look to have benefitted from their busy start to the season.
They began their qualifying campaign for the UEFA Conference League in July and that extra sharpness paid dividends during the first six games of the domestic campaign.
Braga have played 12 games in all competitions so far and should be refreshed after their recent extended international break.
Sporting are also unbeaten in eight matches, but they have not been as consistent as table-toppers Porto, who have won seven from seven.
Still, three draws and four wins in the league suggest Rui Borges' team will be competitive this season.
Including the end of last season, Sporting are unbeaten in nine matches on the road and they should be tough to beat.
The same can be said of Braga, though, with the hosts unbeaten in 11 competitive matches at the Estadio Municipal.
Four of the last five meetings on Braga's home patch have finished level and after a lengthy break, another draw looks good value on Friday.
Alternative Bet: Both teams to score @ 4/5
Braga have kept successive clean sheets in the league and in their last five home matches, but they have not faced a team of Sporting's quality.
While the hosts' recent home form suggests they are more than capable of hitting the back of the net, Sporting are even more prolific.
Borges' team have scored 18 goals already this season in all competitions and only Porto and Benfica have scored more than them in the league.
However, they have had their defensive issues, having conceded eight goals in seven games, which is more than any of the top six.
Both teams to score has landed in the last four meetings between the pair and another entertaining tie should be on the cards.
Braga v Sporting CP Bet Builder Tip
Luis Suarez to score
Pau Victor to score
Geny Catamo 1+ shots on target
Pays 18/1
Each team will lean heavily on their forwards for this tie and Pau Victor is the most likely scorer for Braga.
He leads their shot count with nine in six league meetings and he has hit the target with five of those efforts.
The Spaniard has scored three goals already this season and he should carry the main threat in the final third.
Sporting's Luis Suarez has been in sublime form already this season in the league and he has scored six goals from 14 shots. Eight of his efforts have hit the target and if Borges' team can play him into the right areas, he should do the rest.
Suarez's colleague Geny Catamo is also likely to try his luck. He has registered six shots on target from 12 efforts and should continue to be a threat in the final third.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
Braga have lost only one of their 12 matches this season.
The hosts are unbeaten in 11 competitive matches at home.
Sporting are unbeaten in eight fixtures this season.
Sporting have not lost any of their last nine away matches.
The last three head-to-head meetings have all ended in a draw.
Both teams have scored in the last four head-to-head clashes.
Read more football betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
