The Round 8 match of the Europa League 2025/26 group stage between Go Ahead Eagles (Netherlands) and Braga (Portugal) will take place on 29 January at De Adelaarshorst stadium in Deventer. Go Ahead Eagles vs Braga: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Go Ahead Eagles
The current European season is proving very difficult for Go Ahead Eagles. Although in October the home team produced a couple of shocks by beating Panathinaikos and Aston Villa, form has dropped sharply since and the home side has suffered four consecutive Europa League defeats. Last week the home team even lost to Nice 1:3, a club that had been bottom of the group and had not won in this competition for 18 matches. Overall, after seven rounds the home side has collected only six points and sits 30th in the standings. With such figures the home team still has a chance to fight for a place in the knockout phase, but to do so it must beat Braga, and even with a victory will need to monitor the results of parallel matches.
- The team has conceded 14 goals in this Europa League campaign in total, only three clubs have conceded more.
- The team’s uncompromising run in this tournament stands at 8 games (2 wins, 6 defeats).
- At least two goals have been scored in six of the team’s Europa League matches.
Potential Go Ahead Eagles Lineup*
Yari De Busser – Mats Deijl, Dean James, Joris Kramer, Melle Molensteen – Kalvin Twigt, Evert Linthorst – Oscar Sivertsen, Jakob Breum, Matis Suray – Viktor Edvardsen.
Defenders Gerrit Nauber and Pim Sathof, as well as midfielder Robbin Weijenberg, are injured. Forward Milan Smit and defender Mats Deijl have left the club.
Braga
Braga edged Nottingham Forest 1:0 in their most recent Europa League game. The home win was the club’s second in a row and the fifth in seven matches in this season’s continental competition. In those seven matches the visiting team suffered only one defeat, and the current unbeaten run stands at three games (2 wins, 1 draw). In total Braga have collected 16 points out of a possible 21 and occupy a high fifth place in the table, leading ninth place by two points. A victory over Go Ahead Eagles would guarantee qualification for the round of 16; in case of a slip-up it will be necessary to watch how rivals perform.
- Since the start of this Europa League campaign Braga have recorded five clean sheets – the best figure alongside Lyon.
- The team has won in regular time in 11 consecutive Europa League matches.
- No more than two goals were scored in six of the team’s last seven Europa League games.
Potential Braga Lineup*
Lukáš Horníček – Gustav Lagerbielke, Siku Niakaté, Bright Arrey-Mbi – Víctor Gómez, Florian Grillitsch, Jean-Baptiste Gorby, Gabri Martínez – Ricardo Horta, Diego Rodrigues, Fran Navarro.
Midfielder Rodrigo Salazar has served a suspension, but midfielder Gabri Martínez is now unavailable due to accumulation of yellow cards. Forward Amin El-Wazzani, midfielder Mario Dorgeles and defender Siku Niakaté are out with injuries.
Referee
Willy Delajod (France)
Matches – 5 (International matches, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 14;
Average yellow cards per match – 2.8;
Red cards shown – 1;
Fouls average per match – 22;
Penalties – 40%.
Go Ahead Eagles vs Braga: Match Prediction
So far in this Europa League season Go Ahead Eagles have had only a short autumn burst when they managed two consecutive wins over three weeks. Since those matches the home team has failed to pick up a single point in four European fixtures, and overall the side has suffered five defeats in seven rounds. The club still has a chance to reach the knockout phase, but to do so it must beat Braga – one of the strongest teams in the Europa League group stage.
Braga have dropped only two points across their previous seven matches in this competition. All five wins were clean sheets, and over the winter the club beat Nice and Nottingham Forest by identical 1:0 scores. Including qualification rounds, Braga have won in regular time in nine of their last 11 Europa League matches. Even when considering away results only, the visiting team has won four of their last five matches in this competition.
Prediction: Braga To Win
* The starting lineup shown for each team is from its previous match in this competition.
