Santa Clara vs Braga Prediction: Home Team Can't Be Underestimated

Santa Clara will welcome Braga to the Estadio de Sao Miguel in the 15th round of the Primeira Liga. 

Let's have a look at the latest Portuguese Primeira Liga predictions between Santa Clara vs. Braga, probable lineups, match facts, and betting odds for you to consider!

Note: Odds are subject to change at any time!

Form: LWWWL

Santa Clara boasts nine wins, zero draws, and five losses from their 14 games in the Primeira Liga. This has seen them accumulate 27 points, leaving them in fourth place and nine points behind first-placed Sporting CP.

The Azoreans come into this match with their motivation deflated after losing 2-1 against Sporting CP in the Taca de Portugal round of 16 on Wednesday. Before that, they suffered a narrow 1-0 away defeat at the hands of FC Arouca and have now gone two matches without a win across all competitions.

Formation: 3-4-3

Batista; Venancio, Rocha, Lima; Soares, Araujo, Firmino, Nunes; Lopes, Safira, Silva

Form: DDWLW

Braga's performance this season has yet to meet expectations. They find themselves outside the top four, but if they were to secure a win here, they could see them jump to fourth place. After 14 games played with 27 points accumulated, they occupy fifth place in the standings and are two points behind fourth-placed Santa Clara

Os Arsenalistas were left spitting feathers in a nail-biting 3-3 draw against Famalicao at home. However, that was a well-deserved result, considering they were two goals behind before staging a comeback. They, too, come into this match plagued with inconsistency, failing to win their last three matches across all competitions (D2, L1).

Formation: 3-4-3

Hornicek; Ferreira, Oliveira, Niakate; Fernandes, Carvalho, Horta, Martinez; Zalazar, Bruma, Fernandez

• Santa Clara is currently on a six match winning streak at home in the Primeira Liga.
• Braga has failed to score in just one of their last six away matches in the Primeira Liga.
• Santa Clara are winless in their last seven encounters against Braga.
• Braga is currently on a two match winning streak against Santa Clara.

In the last 15 meetings, Santa Clara has won 2 times, Braga has won 9 times, and there have been 4 draws, with the goal difference being 32-15 in favor of Braga.

Braga are the bigger side and boast more quality compared to their opponents. But that's not the kind of mentality I want to go with when predicting the outcome of this match, and I'm putting aside my biased opinion besides taking a liking to the away team.

The stats this time around see Santa Clara as a dangerous force, and despite being underdogs in this clash, I feel they'll give their opponents a difficult time. At home this season, they have only lost once in their last seven matches while Braga, on the other hand have been behind floundering performances on the road. It won't come as a surprise if the match were to end in a draw, and this is why I'm supporting the home team in the double chance market not to lose.

• Santa Clara/Draw for 1.61
• Total - Under 2.5 for 1.62
• Full-time Result - Draw for 3.20