Braga vs Hoffenheim prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-11-27 20:00.
[p]Braga have won four of their last six matches across all competitions (D1, L1), but their UEFA Europa League (UEL) form specifically hasn’t been up to the mark. As they host Hoffenheim on matchday five with only one point from their last three matches in this tournament, the positives of a 2-1 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv on matchday one are on the verge of getting washed out. [/p]
[p]Three wins from their last five home games in this competition (D1, L1) should raise hope that the Archbishops can resurrect their campaign here. The last three matches in that sequence have all come by a 2-1 scoreline (W2, L1) with the losing team finishing at least one man down each time, so Braga ought to stay strictly disciplined.[/p]
[p]Hoffenheim overcame falling behind on three separate occasions in a thrilling 4-3 win over Leipzig at the weekend in the Bundesliga, in which an 87th-minute winner eased pressure on their relegation worries. The Kraichgauers will now look to build on that positive result and address their indifferent start to the UEL campaign (W1, D2, L1) as they aim to at least equal their previous appearance in this competition (2020/21) in which they reached the last 32.[/p]
[p]The visitors will need every bit of that confidence to drive their challenge after they failed to win any of their last seven competitive away matches (D4, L3). Mirroring those struggles, Hoffenheim are winless across their last four away UEL games (D3, L1) which will only add to their concerns ahead of this trip.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Amine El Ouazzani seems to take his time to make an impact, with six of his seven goals this season coming after the break, including three in this competition (including qualifying rounds). Adam Hložek could look to provide Hoffenheim’s answer, having scored two equalising goals at the weekend whilst he also netted a brace during their only win in this campaign on matchday two (W 2-0 vs Dynamo Kyiv).[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Four of Hoffenheim’s last five UEL matches produced exactly two total goals.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Sridhar B[/i][/p]