Does Braga clinch promotion?
With the introduction of the UEFA Europa Conference League, the Europa League has also been modified. Only 32 teams are now represented in the group stage and winning a group means that a knockout round can be skipped. In Group F, the battle for the group win could already be decided on Thursday. However, a successful bet on the visitors in the clash between Midtjylland and Braga is a prerequisite for this.
The team from the Portuguese Primeira Liga leads the table after four matchdays with nine points and is already in the next round with one and a half legs. The Danish representatives Midtjylland are currently only in third place and desperately need a success in the long-distance duel with Red Star Belgrade. The Serbian club is currently two points ahead of Midtjylland.
The bookmakers are expecting a very even match in this game at the MCH Arena and are not really settling on a favourite. Almost even betting odds are offered on Midtjylland vs Braga for a prediction on the three-way market. The match kicks off on Thursday at 18:45.
Midtjylland – Statistics & current form
For only the second time in the club’s history, the Danes are in the group stage of the Europa League. In 2015/16, they finished behind SSC Napoli to reach the knockout stages, although Midtjylland collected just seven points in the process. An away win in Belgrade against Red Star on the fourth day of group play will keep Henriksen’s side in with a chance of securing promotion again.
Winless in seven home international matches
But for that chance to remain definitely intact on the final matchday, the Danish leaders must win at home on Thursday. A task that has rarely been successful internationally in the recent past. FC Midtjylland have not won at home since seven games in a European group stage (four draws, three defeats). Last year they managed a remarkable 1-1 draw against Liverpool FC, and this season they drew 1-1 against Red Star Belgrade and Ludogorets Rasgrad. This already shows that a prediction on goals on both sides is quite lucrative for Midtjylland against Braga. In general, Henriksen’s 2021/22 eleven has scored in all four group matches.
Second league defeat in a row
The Bees’ partner club from Brentford, Midtjylland’s numbers and statistics also rule, were well on their way to a fourth championship in the club’s history a few weeks ago. With consistently strong performances, the team built a commanding lead in the table, which, however, melted away in the last few weeks. Both before and after the international break, Midtjylland suffered a league defeat. The club is still in first place, but the lead over FC Copenhagen is only four points.
Predicted line-up of Midtjylland:
Lössl – Sviatchenko, Juninho, Dalsgaard – Dyhr, Evander, Cajuste, Andersson – Sisto, Junior Brumado, Isaksen
Last matches played by Midtjylland:
Superleague
11/21 2021 – FC Midtjylland 1 – 2 Brøndby Kopenhagen
11/07 2021 – Aarhus GF 3 – 0 FC Midtjylland
Europa League Grp. F
11/04 2021 – Red Star Belgrade 0 – 1 FC Midtjylland
Superleague
10/31 2021 – Randers FC 1 – 3 FC Midtjylland
Danish Cup
10/28 2021 – FC Midtjylland 3 – 1 Aalborg BK
Braga – Statistics & current form
At times, Sporting Braga can keep up with the top three teams in Portuguese football, but normally they lack the consistency to compete over a full season. Accordingly, the club is considered the clear number four in the Primeira Liga. In 2021/22, the top trio has already been eliminated and Braga is once again fighting for the title of “best of the rest”. In the last 18 years, the Portuguese have qualified for the international stage no fewer than 17 times.
EL Group stage poses no problem
The Europa League seems to be tailor-made for the northern Portuguese. For the seventh time in total, the Carvalhal eleven is taking part in the group stage and so far has a spotless record in the fight for entry into the knockout phase. The six previous attempts have all been successful and the chances are also extremely good in 2021/22.
After the opening defeat against Serbian representatives Red Star, Braga celebrated three wins in a row and stormed to the top of the group. Even a draw on Thursday would be enough to secure progress. But the away statistics certainly give hope for success. Braga have a 9-6-5 record in the Europa League group stage and have won six of their last eight away games. In Denmark, odds of around 2.75 are offered on Midtjylland vs Braga for the visitors.
Cup rehabilitation
Just before the international break, Braga, much like Midtjylland, suffered a setback. In the away match in Lisbon, Braga went down 1:6 against Benfica and conceded one of the highest defeats in recent years. Last weekend, after the international break, there was no league match on the agenda, but a cup match. In the duel of the first division teams, Braga had no problems at all with last-place Santa Clara and celebrated an impressive 6:0 home victory. Especially the young attacker Vitinha attracted attention with four goals.
Predicted line-up of Braga:
Matheus – Sequeira, Diogo Leite, Oliveira, Couto – Galeno, Al Musrati, Castro, Medeiros – Vitinha, Mario Gonzalez
Last matches played by Braga:
Cup
11/20 2021 – Braga 6 – 0 Santa Clara
Liga Portugal
11/07 2021 – Benfica 6 – 1 Braga
Europa League Grp. F
11/04 2021 – Braga 4 – 2 PFK Ludogorez Rasgrad
Liga Portugal
11/01 2021 – Braga 3 – 0 Portimonense
Liga Cup Group C
10/28 2021 – Braga 0 – 0 Pacos de Ferreira
Midtjylland – Braga Direct comparison / H2H balance
The first leg was also the first duel between the two teams. In the end, the Portuguese hosts prevailed 3:1, but the home victory was a hard piece of work for the Carvalhal eleven. The Danes took an early lead and Braga also missed a penalty in the first half.
Thanks to a brilliant second half, however, Braga managed to turn things around and have won all three games against Danish teams so far (2019/20 against Brøndby in the EL qualifiers). Midtjylland, on the other hand, have lost four of their previous five competitive matches against Portuguese teams (with the exception of a goalless draw in 2011/12 against Vitoria Guimaraes).
Midtjylland – Braga Tip
The best bookmakers expect a completely even match at the MCH Arena on Thursday evening. However, there are many arguments to bet on Midtjylland against Braga. The first leg, the direct comparison with teams from the country of the respective opponent, the two defeats of the Danes in the last two league games as well as the good away record of Braga on international ground.
However, the direct bet on the away win seems a little too risky, because even a draw would be a good result for Braga. Therefore, the draw-no-bet market is more likely to be considered here, which means a cashback in case of a score draw. Even more interesting between Midtjylland and Braga, however, is the forecast at fair betting odds on at least three goals. The Danes are forced to act offensively, as basically only a win counts. Braga present themselves very goal-threatening and accordingly three goals are absolutely obvious. Six units are recommended for this bet
