Braga vs Nottingham Prediction & Betting Tips (22 January)

We will have to count on Braga in the coming days in the fight for direct qualification for the 1/8 finals. With its 13 points taken after the first 6 days, Sporting is in a very good 7th place in the standings, just 2 lengths from the 1st place occupied by OL. If they had been beaten by Genk 3-4 and held to a draw by Rangers in November 1-1, the Portuguese revived during the last day by defeating a Nice team in great difficulty in the competition 0-1. On the national scene, Carlos Vicens' players are on the verge of the top 4 in the championship. Eliminated in the League Cup by Vitoria Guimaraes 2-1 then by AD Fafe 2-1 in the Cup, Braga will want to move forward against Tondela next weekend.

For their part, Nottingham Forest is in 11th place in the Europa League standings, 2 units behind their opponent of the day. Getting off to a very bad start in this phase of the league, the English got back on track by winning 3 of their last 4 matches against Porto 2-0, Sturm Graz 0-0, Malmö 3-0 and Utrech 1-2 which allows them to maintain good momentum before these last 2 days. In the Premier League, Forest had a series of 4 defeats in a row before recovering against West Ham 1-2. Sean Dyche's players will have a lot to do this weekend against Arsenal but they will be able to keep their place outside the red zone. 

A priori, Braga should approach this meeting without the unused defender Jonatas Noro, without the replacement striker Sandro Vidigal (3-0) and without the former Guingamp striker Amine El Ouazzani (2 goals in the league) who are injured. Otherwise, Sporting should be at full strength this week. Authors of 6 goals each, midfielders Horta and Zalazar are the 2 best elements of this formation offensively in the championship. In C3, it is the attacker Fran Navarro who is the most decisive player with 3 achievements. On the English side, it is necessary to highlight the packages of the goalkeeper No. 2 John Victor, potentially starting midfielder Yates and the important striker Wood.

On the other hand, the Ivorian internationals Boly and Sangaré returned from the CAN and are therefore available. Winger Hudson-Odoi (3 goals in PL) and striker Igor Jesus (1 goal in PL) are also tipped to appear on the scoresheet just like the playmaker Gibbs-White (5 goals in PL). Igor Jesus is also very effective in C3 where he has 4 goals to his credit. This winter, French striker Kalimuendo (2 goals in C3) left to compensate for the departure of Wahi from Eintracht Frankfurt. Former Niçois Ndoye could also go to Italy in the coming days.