SC Braga vs Benfica Lisbon Prediction & Betting Tips - League Cup

Prediction published on 18/01/2021, 07:48  by James | Modified on 18/01/2021 at 08:48 in Football Predictions

The Taca de Liga's semi-finals take place this week with Braga and Benfica facing off for one of the spots in the final. Braga are the reigning champions of the trophy; Benfica last winning the competition in 2016. The two sides are close together in the Primeira Liga table with Benfica third, five points ahead of Braga in fourth. The game will take place on neutral ground, the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa. This location may trouble Braga, who have failed to perform in recent away outings. Three of Braga's last five away games have ended in defeat. However, they are unbeaten in seven of their previous eight away games in this competition, six of which have been victories. They come into this game on the back of two victories from three matches against Benfica. Quite an improvement on their previous 14 meetings, none of which brought a win. 

Benfica played out a 1-1 draw with Porto over the weekend, a top-of-the-table meeting that saw league leaders Sporting Lisbon emerge as the real winners. Their slip-up - a 1-1 home draw with Rio Ave - consequently went unpunished. The stalemate means that Benfica are now unbeaten in their last five matches. Their record away from home is lacking though, failing to win six of their previous ten games on the road. It doesn't improve much when you look at their Taca da Liga record. They have failed to win their last five away matches in this competition, the most recent of which was in 2019. It must be said that four of those finished level. We see this fixture going the same way. Back this game to be level at the end of normal time.