Braga vs Union Berlin prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-11-28 20:00.
After making it to the last 16 of the Taça de Portugal over the weekend, Braga now need to defeat rock-bottom Union Berlin in their penultimate UEFA Champions League (UCL) group game in order to maintain any hopes of finishing in Group C’s top-two. That may not even be enough if Napoli win away at Real Madrid, but a victory would at very least secure some form of springtime European football for the hosts.
With four wins from the last five encounters against German opponents, Braga may feel bullish ahead of this clash, especially after going unbeaten in four of their last five home games (W3, D1). Despite their impressive recent home record, they’ve only kept one clean sheet on home soil in competitive action this season, and that was in their very first game of the season here in UCL qualifying.
One of the more interesting stories across Europe in recent years has been the progression of Union Berlin who, under Urs Fischer’s leadership, achieved a maiden promotion to the Bundesliga and then first UCL group appearance this season. Despite all that, their revered boss was sacked after failing to win 14 straight games, before that run stretched to 15 with a 1-1 draw against Augsburg at the weekend (D2, L13).
Winning here is realistically the Iron Ones’ last chance of securing springtime European football, although they will remain mathematically in touch with third should they draw. To claim any form of positive result, the Berliners will need to improve on their failure to score in three of their last four away games if they’re to have any chance of upsetting the odds (D1, L3).
Players to watch: Braga’s Simon Banza is the only man with a double-figure goal tally in Liga Portugal (G10), and he registered his very first UCL goal contribution in this group stage against Real Madrid. He will try to outshoot Union’s Sheraldo Becker, the Surinamese star who fired his side into a 2-0 lead before they incredibly lost 3-2 in the reverse.
Hot stat: Braga have scored in 21 of their 22 competitive games during 2023/24 (W14, D3, L5).