Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
In the final round of the Portuguese League, Braga will host Benfica on their home turf. The match is set for Saturday, May 17, with kickoff at 19:00 Central European Time. Here’s my take and betting tip for this decisive clash.
Braga vs Benfica: Match facts and head-to-head
- Braga are winless in their last three matches: two draws and a defeat.
- Benfica are on a superb unbeaten run—11 games without a loss.
- Braga have not lost at home in 2025.
- Benfica have won six consecutive away matches.
- Braga have scored in ten straight games, while Benfica have found the net in each of their last thirteen fixtures.
- Benfica boast the league’s second-best attack—83 goals scored.
- Benfica also have the league’s best defense—only 27 goals conceded.
- Both teams share the same percentage of goalless defeats this season: 8%.
- Benfica have kept a clean sheet in 45% of their matches; Braga in 35%.
- In the reverse fixture, Benfica edged Braga 1-0. In the last five head-to-heads, Benfica have four wins to Braga’s one.
Braga vs Benfica: Match preview
The final matchday in the Portuguese League brings an electrifying intrigue. Both Braga and Benfica are highly motivated, each with their own ambitions on the line.
The hosts currently sit fourth in the table, which secures a spot in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers. However, they’re just three points off third place. Theoretically, they can still break into the top three, but to do so they must beat Benfica and hope Porto slip up in their match. Braga’s recent form has been shaky—three games without a win and a defeat last round. Still, they remain unbeaten at home since the start of 2025.
For Benfica, the stakes—and the tension—are even higher. The Eagles are second, trailing leaders Sporting only on tiebreakers. This could be the match that crowns Benfica as champions. In the previous round, they hosted Sporting but could only manage a 1-1 draw, missing the chance to take the top spot. Now, victory is essential—while a draw might just suffice, Benfica are clearly set on nothing less than three points.
Both teams still have plenty to play for, promising a thrilling and high-stakes encounter. This match could shake up the top three and decide the national champion.
Probable lineups
- Braga: Hrnčík; Chiquinho, Oliveira, Niakaté, Gomes; Horta, Moutinho, Carvalho, Fernandes; Salazar; Ouazzani
- Benfica: Trubin; Carreras, Silva, Otamendi, Araujo; Florentino, Barreiro; Aktürkoglu, Kökçü, Schjelderup; Pavlidis
Prediction
The final round, and nothing has been settled yet. Both sides will go all out for victory—adding extra spice to the showdown. My pick: over 2.5 goals at odds of 1.56.
