Saint-Gilloise vs Sporting Braga: betting odds 23 Jan 2025

Matchday 7 of the 2024/25 Europa League group stage between Union (Belgium) and Braga (Portugal) will take place on January 23 at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. Union vs. Braga: prediction and betting odds, statistics.

Predicted lineups for Union vs. Braga

Union (4-3-3): Anthony Moris – Koki Machida, Christian Burgess, Kevin Mac Allister, Anan Khalaili – Sofiane Boufal, Charles Vanhoutte, Noah Sadiki – Ousseynou Niang, Franjo Ivanovic, Mohammed Fuseini.

Braga (4-3-3): Matheus Magalhaes – Joao Ferreira, Paulo Oliveira, Robson Bambu, Roger Fernandes – Jean-Baptiste Gorby, Joao Moutinho, Ismael Gharbi – Gabi Martinez, Amine El Ouazzani, Ricardo Horta.

Each team's starting lineup from their previous match in this tournament is indicated.

Union

The club has won their last two Europa League matches by a one-goal margin, defeating Twente (1-0) and Nice (2-1). Prior to these victories, Union had not won in the group stage (2 draws, 2 losses). Thanks to recent successful results, the team has moved into the playoff zone in the Europa League standings, climbing to 20th place. They are just three points away from the top eight, keeping the Brussels club in contention for a direct spot in the Europa League round of 16. It's worth noting that matches involving Union are among the lowest-scoring in the group stage, averaging 1.7 goals per game, with only Olympiacos having a lower average (1.3).

• No more than 3 goals have been scored in Union's last 14 matches in the second-tier European competition.
• Union has not scored more than once in 7 of their last 9 Europa League games.
• The team's unbeaten home streak in this tournament is 7 matches (4 wins, 3 draws).

Braga

The Portuguese team suffered a 0-3 defeat to Roma in the last round, marking their third loss in the group stage (2 wins, 1 draw). As a result, Braga fell out of the playoff zone in the Europa League standings, dropping from 18th to 25th place. However, they are only behind their three closest competitors due to a worse goal difference and still have theoretical chances of securing a direct spot in the round of 16. Notably, Braga's defense has been unreliable, conceding goals in 5 of their 6 group stage matches, with a total of 10 goals against them. Additionally, Braga has struggled on the road, earning just one point in the main stage of the current tournament, with a goal difference of 1:7.

The main goalkeeper, Matheus Magalhaes, will miss the upcoming match due to suspension.

• At least 3 goals have been scored in 8 of Braga's last 9 Europa League matches.
• The club has scored in 7 of their last 9 matches in this tournament.
• The team's winless away streak in the Europa League is 4 matches (2 draws, 2 losses), conceding in all of them.

Union vs. Braga: Match Prediction

Bookmakers have made the hosts the favorites for the upcoming match, and I agree. The Brussels team is extremely dangerous at home, where they have not lost in 7 consecutive matches in the second-tier European tournament. During this streak, they have faced formidable opponents like Liverpool (2-1) and Roma (1-1). Additionally, Union regularly scores at home, finding the net in 8 of their last 9 Europa League matches.

This does not bode well for Braga, who, as mentioned earlier, perform poorly away from home. They also have a shaky defense, having conceded 10 goals in the group stage, with 7 of them coming in away matches. There is no doubt that the hosts will be closer to success in the upcoming match. Moreover, the Brussels club recently faced Braga in the 2022/23 Europa League group stage and did not lose to them (2-1, 3-3). The absence of their main goalkeeper due to a red card in the last round will also be a disadvantage for the visitors.

Therefore, my prediction is Union with a handicap (0)