Union Berlin vs Braga prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-10-26 16:45.
While Union Berlin still sit top of the Bundesliga, a humiliating 2-1 defeat against a Bochum side who sat bottom of the league prior to kick off will undoubtedly have hurt. Urs Fischer’s side now have the chance to right those domestic wrongs on the European front, where a victory would see them leapfrog Braga into second place in UEFA Europa League (UEL) Group D and leave them in a strong position for the final matchday.
Not that it will be their first choice, but at the very least Union are guaranteed a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League knockout stages. With the H2H record as UEFA’s first deciding factor if points are level, victory here, by more than the 1-0 defeat they fell to in the reverse, seems imperative to Union’s hopes of advancing in the UEL, particularly as their final group game comes against table-topping Royale Union, with Braga squaring off against a Malmö side who have lost all four of their UEL group games this term.
Back-to-back wins in under a week ended a four-match winless run for Braga (D1, L3) but as they remain six points adrift of leaders Benfica in the Primeira Liga, European success is perhaps crucial for Artur Jorge’s side. The prospects look good here for Braga, who have won their three prior UEL matches against German opposition and know extending that to four will seal their safe passage to the UEL knockouts.
Just two wins from their last nine UEL away fixtures (D2, L5) suggests that is far from a foregone conclusion, but with the incentive that top-spot is still a possibility with victory and a favour from Malmö against Royale Union, there is motive for Braga to improve upon that dismal run. Considering none of those nine games saw the side scoring first go on to lose, the opening goal could go a long way to deciding Braga’s UEL fate here.
Players to watch: Sheraldo Becker is one of just two Union players to score a UEL group stage goal this term, netting the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win away at Malmö. Braga’s VĂtor Oliveira has been more prolific however, as he scored a first-half hat-trick in their last away outing in this competition.
Hot stat: No side has been caught offside more than Union Berlin in the UEL group stages (17).