Braga-Real Madrid is a match valid for the third day of the group stage of the Champions League and is played on Tuesday at 9 p.m.: TV, lineups, predictions.
It has already set the record straight for Real Madrid in Group C, Napoli’s group, thanks precisely to their victory in the “Maradona” clash on the last day of the group stage. Drawn by an increasingly decisive Bellingham, Carlo Ancelotti’s team extinguished the Azzurri’s (2-3) first-place ambitions, despite not shining in terms of play, but relying mainly on the plays of its champions.
The round of 16, at this point, appears to be just a formality for the Blancos, who after two rounds are on full points, three points ahead of the pair formed by Napoli and Braga. Real Madrid is also galloping in the league, where it currently shares the summit with the surprising Girona. After four consecutive victories, however, Saturday came the first stop for Modric and his teammates, stopped at the “Sanchez Pizjuan” by the Sevilla of former Sergio Ramos (1-1) in a match characterized by the strong controversy because of the two goals cancelled to Real in the first quarter of an hour of play. In any case, the point picked up in Andalusia served to hold off Barcelona, which triumphed over Athletic Bilbao and moved to -1 again.
Real Madrid wants to mortgage first place
It will need a more convincing performance to unceremoniously dispose of Braga, a team that so far has not been at all demerit.
Castro
Artur Jorge’s Portuguese side in the opener created quite a few problems for Napoli, which went through only thanks to an unfortunate own-goal in the final game (1-2). Full of excitement, on the other hand, was the challenge with Union Berlin at the Olympiastadion: on that occasion Braga took advantage of the Germans’ defensive amnesias to turn the game around after even finishing two goals behind: Castro’s decisive goal came in the midst of the recovery. Jorge has no injury problems: the only absentee is fullback Victor Gomez. Lots of doubts to clear instead for Ancelotti, who could again keep Modric on the bench.
The prediction
Braga has faced both Napoli and Union Berlin head-on and is unlikely to change this attitude against Real Madrid. Therefore, we expect an entertaining match, in which the total goals could be at least three. The Portuguese, it is true, are going through a good moment of form but they are unlikely to avoid defeat.
The probable lineups of Braga-Real Madrid
- BRAGA (4-2-3-1): Matheus; Borja, Niakaté, Serdar Saatçi, Mendes; Al Musrati, Zalazar; Bruma, Álvaro Djaló, Ricardo Horta; Banza.
- REAL MADRID (4-3-1-2): Kepa; Carvajal, Rüdiger, Alaba, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouaméni, Camavinga; Bellingham; Joselu, Vinicius Júnior.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
