Braga vs Chaves predictions, betting tips & match preview

Monday night’s game in Portugal is a shock battle for a European place. While Braga are usual contenders for a spot in the Champions League, the same can’t be said about Chaves. They are newly promoted this season, but they find themselves fifth in the table. Could they claim a shock win and strengthen their push for a continental place?

Braga shouldn’t have a problem readjusting from their midweek Europa League action. They also have a four day break from their trip to Turkey, so they should be back to their best for this game. Chaves could be a shock entrant in the Europa League themselves, if their early form holds. The key test for them will be surviving on a thin squad. This game will be a big test of their top five credentials.

Chaves will have to keep an eye on Braga forward Wilson Eduardo in this game. He’s the home side’s strongest scoring threat, having hit the back of the net in his last two league games here. We’re backing him to add to that record with a goal on Monday night. Eduardo is well priced to grab a goal here, coming in at 15/8 to score any time with bet365.

Eduardo has a better chance of scoring thanks to injuries, and Braga’s summer transfer dealings. They let two players out on loan to Chaves, both of whom are now unavailable for this clash. That’s left the visitors without two important players, and their first choice centre-back pairing. That is a huge blow in a massive game in their European push. Defenders Fabio Santos and Felipe Lopes have formed a strong partnership, one which has seen them concede just 0.67 goals per game. It’s hard to see their new makeshift defence repeating that form.

Braga come into this game averaging two goals per match at home, conceding 0.67 in return. They face a Chaves side who aren’t scoring enough goals. On top of that, the hosts have won the five meetings between these two in Braga by an 11-0 aggregate scoreline. That’s why we’re backing them to win with a -1 handicap here, at 13/8 with bet365.