Braga aim to end their away winless run: Aarhus vs Braga prediction
On November 5, Danish side Aarhus will host Portugal’s Braga in the third round of the Conference League’s league phase. The hosts have collected just one point from their opening two matches, while the visitors have three. Both teams are struggling in their domestic leagues, but their recent results suggest a fiercely contested encounter.
Aarhus: difficult European start and hope for a home advantage
Jakob Poulsen’s side have yet to find any consistency. After going nine league matches without a win in Denmark, Aarhus managed to beat Sønderjyske and Viborg, but lost to Brøndby (0-2) in the most recent round. Their Conference League campaign has also been difficult: the Danes first lost to Gent (0-1), before drawing with Egnatia (1-1). James Bogere scored their only goal in the latter match.
The hosts’ main advantage remains their home ground, where the team are unbeaten in four consecutive matches, recording two wins and two draws. However, personnel issues have complicated preparations. Erik Kal is suspended after being sent off against Egnatia, while Nikolaj Poulsen and Kevin Yakob are still recovering from injuries. Daniel Gretarsson is expected to start in central defence, replacing the absent defender.
Braga: rebuilding confidence after a run of defeats
Franklin Carvalho’s team are going through a difficult spell. Before the latest round, the Portuguese side had lost five of their last six matches in all competitions, including encounters with Sporting, Gil Vicente and Nacional. However, a 3-0 victory over Famalicão lifted the mood. Ricardo Horta and Pau Víctor scored after the break, sending the team up to eighth place in the Portuguese league.
Braga opened their Conference League campaign with a heavy 0-3 defeat to Copenhagen, but then beat Gent (2-0). Their main concern remains their away form: the Portuguese side have failed to win any of their last four matches on the road. Sikou Niakaté will miss the game with an Achilles tendon injury. Mário Dorgeles, Ricardo Horta, Gabri Martínez and Fran Navarro are expected to lead the attack, while Vítor Gómez and Adrián León Barišić should bolster the defence.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- Aarhus are unbeaten in their last four home matches, recording two wins
- Braga have won just one of their last eight away matches in all competitions
- The match will be played at the neutral Sefius Park venue in Randers
Can Braga win in Denmark: Aarhus vs Braga prediction
Aarhus will look to make the most of their home advantage, but inconsistent results and personnel losses could make the task significantly more difficult. The Danes have yet to show enough attacking threat in Europe to justify strong confidence in a victory.
Braga have the more experienced squad and should gain confidence after their emphatic win over Famalicão. Despite their poor away record, the Portuguese side look the more attractive option thanks to the quality of their attacking players.
