Napoli vs Braga prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-12-11 20:00.
With seven points on the board in UEFA Champions League (UCL) Group B (W2, D1, L2), reigning Serie A champions Napoli head into the final matchday knowing that simply avoiding defeat will see them qualify for the knockout rounds. Quarter-finalists last season, the hosts are looking to reach the UCL knockout stage for the fifth time and should be buoyed by the fact that they beat Braga 2-1 on matchday one.
Walter Mazzarri’s side lost 1-0 to Juventus on Friday though, a result that saw them drop out of the top four spots in Italy’s top-flight, which certainly isn’t ideal preparation for this crucial clash. Most would think that a return to Diego Armando Maradona Stadium should be welcome then, but instead Napoli have struggled here in the UCL of late, and are bidding to avoid going winless across their four home UCL outings (D2, L1) for the first time in club history.
That should give visiting Braga plenty of hope then, especially as they need to win by at least a two-goal margin to qualify for the UCL knockout rounds for the first ever time. The Portuguese side won by such a margin over the weekend, beating Vizela 3-1 to extend their unbeaten run across all competitions to five outings (W4, D1), scoring three or more times in three of the last four.
That form comes in stark contrast to their recent UCL results though, as Braga have won just one of their last nine matches in the competition (D1, L7). The visitors also arrive in Naples having lost their last six European outings against Italian opposition since a 1-0 success over Parma back in 2007, a record which needs to end here if qualification is to be obtained.
Players to watch: Napoli’s lucky charm Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has seen all 16 of his goal scoring outings for the club end in victory. Braga’s Simon Banza netted a brace at the weekend to take his overall tally to 13 goals this season, though none have come in the UCL.
Hot stat: At least one team has scored three or more goals in eight of Braga’s last ten competitive away matches.