Rebordosa vs. Braga: Preview, Predictions, Team News, and Lineups –

Rebordosa will be aiming to cause a major upset against Braga in the third round of the Taca de Portugal on Thursday.

The home side are competing in the fourth tier of Portuguese football, whereas Braga are in this season’s Champions League.

Match preview

Indeed, Rebordosa have bounced between the fourth and fifth levels of Portugal’s pyramid within the past 30 years or so, so they have it all to do to avoid a heavy defeat on Thursday.

They defeated Lobao and Tocha to reach this stage of Portugal’s primary cup competition, having only previously ever won one match in this tournament in normal time in their entire history.

Rebordosa currently sit fourth in their domestic division, having collected 10 points from their opening six games of the campaign, and momentum is likely to be high given that they are on an unbeaten run of 20 matches in all competitions.

Their last defeat came in January earlier this year, when they were beaten 2-0 by Lusitania Lourosa, so they may provide their illustrious opponents with a tougher contest than many may be expecting.

© Reuters

However, Braga are a buoyant club at present after qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in a decade, with Artur Jorge‘s side beating Union Berlin in their second group game of this season’s competition.

The 51-year-old is a hugely popular figure in Braga having previously managed them in July 2020 before dropping back down to their reserve team, but he returned to the senior team in some style from May 2022 onwards, guiding them to an impressive third-placed finish in his first full season in charge.

That said, their defeat to Porto in last season’s final in this competition will provide plenty of motivation on Thursday and beyond, as they look to lift Taca de Portugal for the fourth time in the club’s history.

Four wins from their last five league games have seen Jorge’s side move within six points of Porto at the top of the Portuguese Primera Liga table, so they should head to the outskirts of that city with plenty of confidence of avoiding a major upset in midweek.

Rebordosa Taca de Portugal form:

Braga form (all competitions):

Advert – content below:

Team News

© Reuters

Rebordosa will remain without Diogo Bianchi due to a cruciate ligament rupture, but otherwise their manager will be hoping to call upon a fully-fit squad at Monte de Azevido on Thursday.

They could reward the same starting XI which defeated Tocha in the previous round of this competition, with Dinis Djadjo hoping to get on the scoresheet once again after bagging a brace in that match.

Braga, meanwhile, will travel without Ricardo Horta and Victor Gomez due to muscle injuries, with the pair unlikely to return until the end of the month at the earliest.

With his side facing Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, Jorge could opt to hand some fringe players an opportunity in this match, meaning that Abel Ruiz could be rested in attack.

Rebordosa possible starting lineup:
R Mota; M Mota, Filipe, Pacheco, Silva; Goncalves, Couto, Alves; Almeida, Djadjo, Pipo

Braga possible starting lineup:
Hornicek; Mendes, Saatci, Fonte, Marin; Lopes, Moutinho, Castro, Roger; Djalo, Banza

We say: Rebordosa 0-3 Braga

Given that there are three divisions between these sides and a huge gulf in financial resources, we would be amazed if Braga do not cruise to a comfortable victory.

Rebordosa’s only hope of causing an upset may be the timing of the international break, which could hamper Braga’s selection strategy, but even so the visitors should have more than enough at their disposal to get the job done.

Previews by email