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Braga and Maccabi Tel Aviv kick off their Europa League campaign at the Estadio Municipal de Braga on Thursday.
The hosts returned to winning ways in style, thrashing newly promoted Nacional 3-0 in the Portuguese Primeira Liga on Friday (20 September). Before that, Carlos Carvalhal’s men suffered their first defeat of the season, losing 2-0 to Vitoria de Guimaraes, which snapped their 12-game unbeaten run across competitions and friendlies.
Braga now get their campaign underway in the Europa League, following an impressive qualifying campaign, where they edged out Petach Tikva, Servette and Rapid Vienna to reach the new-look group phase.
Maccabi, meanwhile, maintained their fine run of results at the weekend with a 2-0 victory over Ashdod in the Israeli Premier League. Zarko Lazetic’s side have won nine games on the bounce across competitions, scoring 23 goals and keeping five clean sheets since a 1-0 loss to FCSB in July.
Having suffered a second-round exit from the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, Maccabi booked their spot in the Europa League, beating Panevezys before an 8-1 aggregate win over Backa Topola in the playoff round.
Braga vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- This will be the first meeting between the two sides.
- Maccabi are on a nine-game winning streak and have lost once in 22 matches across competitions and friendlies since April.
- Braga have lost one of 14 matches across competitions and friendlies, winning eight, since July.
- Maccabi are on a run of nine competitive away games without defeat, winning seven, since a 1-0 loss to Hapoel Be'er Sheva in April.
Braga vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Prediction
Buoyed by their morale-boosting victory over Nacional, Braga head into the clash with confidence as they face the stern challenge of a Maccabi side who have won their last nine games.
However, Carvalhal’s men boast the firepower needed to get the job done and should come away with a narrow victory at home.
Prediction: Braga 2-1 Maccabi
Braga vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Betting Tips
Tip 1: Braga to win
Tip 2: Over 2.5 goals - Yes (There have been at least three goals scored in seven of Maccabi's last nine games.)
Tip 3: Over 4.5 cards - Yes (There have been at least five bookings in Maccabi’s last eight outings.)
