In many parts of Europe, the national championship will be concluded on the whit weekend. The last matchday in the Portuguese football top flight has already been played on Tuesday and Wednesday. Nevertheless, the ball does not rest this weekend in Portugal, because the big cup final in the Taca de Portugal is still on the agenda. Braga and Benfica Lisbon will face each other on a neutral pitch in Coimbra, the Estadio EFAPEL, late on Sunday evening.
In the final table of the Liga NOS, the two final opponents were neighbours in the table, with Braga finishing fourth and Benfica Lisbon in a disappointing third place. In the end, the points gap between the two teams was a full twelve points. Accordingly, it is not surprising that in the cup final between Braga and Benfica Lisbon, betting on the Red Eagles from Lisbon is considered the most likely outcome. Depending on the bookmaker, the odds for victory in the regular season are just over 2.00.
Prediction & Live Odds for Braga vs. Benfica
The last professional match of the 2020/21 season in Portugal will kick off at the stadium of second-division club Academica Coimbra late on Sunday evening. The Portuguese Cup competition is a great opportunity for both finalists to celebrate silverware after all. Braga missed this opportunity in the League Cup final, Benfica disappointed in the battle for the championship.
Based on the quality available in the squad and the performances in the season finale, a clear trend seems to be emerging. For Braga against Benfica Lisbon, betting on the northern Portuguese from Braga is not recommended.
The weak form in the finish (two wins in ten games) causes a certain amount of uncertainty. Benfica Lisbon, on the other hand, have been on a roll lately and have been particularly convincing in their forward play. Ten goals were scored in the last three league games alone. Form, quality, experience – three arguments that underline the prediction of a win for the favourites – Benfica Lisbon.
Braga – Statistics & current form
The 2013/14 season was the last time the team from the north of Portugal missed out on a top-five finish in the Portuguese league. Basically, Sporting Braga can be considered the fourth power in Portugal behind Porto and the two teams from Lisbon. Over the course of an entire season, they often lack the consistency to hold their own against the top three, but compared to the rest of the league, Braga is clearly superior.
Braga with weak form in season finale
However, more than fourth place in the table was not possible this season. Head coach Carlos Carvalhal’s team was even in second place after 22 league games. But in the final spurt of the season, Braga ran out of steam a little. In the last ten league games, only two victories were celebrated, leaving them no less than 16 points short of the aforementioned second place in the standings.
The cup has its own laws, but the current weak form cannot be denied and is definitely an argument against the prediction of a third cup win in the club’s history (last in 2015/16) in the final between Braga and Benfica Lisbon. It would also be extremely bitter for Braga, as the final in the League Cup already ended in defeat. At the end of January, Braga lost 0:1 against the new champions Sporting Lisbon.
Predicted Braga line-up:
Matheus – Vitor Tormena, Raul Silva, Sequeira – Galeno, Al Musrati, Castro, Esgaio – Fransergio – Ruiz, Horta
Benfica Lisbon – Statistics & Current Form
The spectacular return of successful coach Jorge Jesus (who, however, left Benfica for city rivals Sporting) sent a signal to the competition. After the vice-championship, the return to the throne is the declared goal. In addition to Jesus, a number of well-known players were signed, but the team still only finished a disappointing third in the table.
Strong finish as an encouragement
At least Benfica Lisbon still have the chance to claim a title on Sunday night, unlike last year. In addition to 37 championships, the Red Eagles have also won the major Portuguese Cup 26 times. However, the last triumph was a while ago (2016/17 season).
This waiting period should now come to an end in Coimbra. A look at the most recent results definitely provides a strong argument for betting on the favourites in Braga vs. After Benfica had to cope with a number of slip-ups over long stretches of the season, they showed their usual consistency in the end. In the last seven league games, the Red Eagles celebrated six victories and thus collected 19 of a possible 21 points.
The prestigious victory in the derby against Sporting Lisbon was particularly important. Although the city rivals were not knocked off their thrones, Benfica Lisbon at least prevented their arch-rivals from having an unbeaten season. Jorge Jesus’ team definitely has the advantage in terms of form.
Predicted line-up of Benfica Lisbon:
Leite – Otamendi, Vertonghen, Verissimo – Grimaldo, Weigl, Taarabt, Goncalves – Everton, Seferovic, Pizzi