Real Madrid will book their place in the Champions League round of 16 if they beat Portuguese side Braga on Wednesday night.
Madrid are one of four sides with a 100% record in the competition through three games and two of their remaining group encounters will be played on home soil. Carlo Ancelotti’s side are primed to top Group C ahead of Napoli following their victory in Naples on Matchday 2.
Braga competed admirably in the reverse fixture before succumbing to more Jude Bellingham magic in a 2-1 defeat. However, their comeback win over Union Berlin has given them a chance of qualifying for the last 16. Third spot and a place in the Europa League seem more likely, though.
Here’s 90min’s preview of Real Madrid’s upcoming Champions League group game against Braga.
Real Madrid vs Braga H2H Record
Current Form (all competitions)
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United Kingdom |
discovery+ App, discovery+, TNT Sports 4 |
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ViX, Paramount+ |
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DAZN |
Ancelotti has plenty to ponder on the injury front with a couple of fresh concerns arising ahead of this Champions League duel.
Bellingham is a doubt with a shoulder injury, while Ferland Mendy is unlikely to start. Dani Ceballos, though, could return to the matchday squad with Arda Guler finally in contention for minutes.
Madrid have lost Aurelien Tchouameni for the rest of the year with a broken foot. The Frenchman joins Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao on the long-term injury list.
Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Braga (4-3-1-2): Kepa; Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, Alaba; Camavinga, Valverde, Kroos; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius.
Braga are injury-free heading into this contest. The visitors were without key playmaker and captain Ricardo Horta for the reverse fixture, but he’ll start at the Bernabeu on Wednesday after he was on the scoresheet at the weekend.
Striker Simon Banza should retain his place up top after he scored a quick-fire hat-trick late on in Braga’s 6-1 win over Portimonense.
Braga predicted lineup vs Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Matheus; Gomez, Fonte, Oliveira, Borja; Al-Musrati, Zalazar; Djalo, Horta, Bruma; Banza.
Real Madrid‘s La Liga draw with Rayo Vallecano highlighted their dependence on Bellingham. Who’s going to step up if the English superstar doesn’t provide the decisive moment, or is simply having an off day?
That’s a question for Ancelotti to figure out, and there’s a possibility the Italian will be without his English talisman on Wednesday.
Despite questions surrounding Madrid’s attack, they’ve been sound defensively and their stout foundations will stand them in good stead as this competition progresses. This is unlikely to be a thriller, but the hosts should do enough to edge it on home soil.
Prediction: Real Madrid 2-0 Braga
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