Timetable | 20:00 GMT - 8th Nov 23 |
Prediction | Real Madrid to Win! |
Odds | 1.21 |
Bookmaker | betway |
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While there’s a sense that Real Madrid have yet to move into top gear this season, they retain a wealth of experience and quality that has seen them power to the top of Champions League Group C with a maximum of nine points from three matches. They also boast one of the tournament’s top performers in the 2023 ‘Golden Boy’ Jude Bellingham, who already has three goals to his name and is the joint-top scorer in the group stages. They’re also the clear football betting favourites to win here, especially having won 2-1 in Braga less than two weeks ago. But will Los Blancos deliver on their status as favourites, or can SC Braga deliver what would be their most famous UCL victory?
🏆 Real Madrid v SC Braga UCL Prediction
It’s quite staggering to think that Madrid have played 450 more games than Braga in Europe’s premier club competition, although the 14-time winners had never gone head-to-head with their Portuguese opponents prior to their clash at the Estádio Municipal on October 24th.
Braga were surprisingly competitive in this match, as they boasted 48% possession and actually attempted more shots (16 vs 13) on goal. However, it’s fair to say that Los Blancos dropped off and sought to defend deep after Bellingham’s strike afforded them a 2-0 lead in the 61st minute, especially with Braga netting just two minutes later through Alvaro Djalo. Overall, however, Real have been statistically dominant when compared to Braga, with their tally of 39.67 shot-creating actions per 90 second only to Manchester city in 2023/24 (the corresponding number for the Portuguese side is just 26.67).
Real also average 59.0% possession overall and tend to have even more of the ball at home, so I expect them to dominate here and force Braga to play on the counterattack. So, although I think Braga will threaten in transition and that Madrid continue to suffer in the absence of a world class striker, I’m tipping the home side to win comfortably and qualify for the UCL round of 16.
My Prediction: 🏆 Real Madrid 3 – 1 Braga ⚽
💯 Real Madrid v SC Braga UCL Match Odds
I certainly like the range of Real Madrid vs Braga betting markets that are in play, especially among Betinireland’s best Champions League betting sites. But what are the most popular marketplaces, and how are they currently being priced?
Real Madrid v SC Braga: Match Winner
Unsurprisingly, it’s the match winner market that continues to see the highest betting volumes ahead of the clash between Real and Braga. Of course, the sportsbooks featured in Betinireland’s bookmaker reviews have all made Los Blancos clear favourites to win, but Braga shouldn’t be completely discounted despite their extended price.
Team | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Real Madrid to Win | 1.21 | 1.20 | 1.21 | 1.22 | 1.25 |
Braga to Win | 12.00 | 12.00 | 10.60 | 11.76 | 10.00 |
Draw | 7.25 | 7.00 | 6.85 | 7.40 | 6.66 |
Real Madrid v SC Braga: Both Teams To Score
In terms of the popular BTTS market, it should be noted that Madrid have scored in all but one of their competitive games this season, although this blank was drawn at home against a stubborn Rayo Vallecano side last time out. Interestingly, Braga have gone one better by scoring in all of their games both at home and abroad!
Yes/No | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yes | 1.74 | 1.83 | 1.78 | 1.78 | 1.68 |
No | 1.99 | 1.95 | 1.96 | 2.05 | 2.14 |
Real Madrid v SC Braga: Over/Under 2.5 Goals
The reverse fixture in Portugal delivered three excellent goals, while the 15 matches contested by Madrid alone in 2023/24 have produced 40 goals at a rate of 2.66 per game. Because of this, the odds imply a higher probability of over 2.5 goals being scored in the match, with this outcome heavily favoured by sportsbooks!
Under/Over | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Over 2.5 Goals | 1.36 | 1.35 | 1.32 | 1.33 | 1.33 |
Under 2.5 Goals | 3.10 | 3.10 | 3.10 | 3.72 | 3.33 |
✔️ Real Madrid v SC Braga - Betting Tips
As we can see, outcomes such as Real Madrid to win and over 2.5 goals being scored in the game are relatively short priced, so navigating these markets profitably can be challenging. So, here are some insightful betting tips to help you deploy your starting bankroll in the best possible way! When it comes to making informed bets, consider exploring various matched betting strategies to maximize your winning chances.
- Tip 1: Back Madrid to Win With a Handicap of -1.75 Goals: If you expect Madrid to dominate at the Santiago Bernabéu, you can unlock far superior value by backing them to win with a small handicap. For example, you can wager on Los Blancos to beat Braga with a handicap of -1.75 goals, which is available at the enhanced price of 1.75 with LegendPlay. This should reflect Madrid’s obvious superiority in terms of pedigree and individual quality, while it doesn’t overly compromise your chances of winning.
- Tip 2: Back Madrid to Win and There to be Over 3.5 Goals Scored: Arguably, you can unlock even greater value by creating a parlay that backs Madrid to win with over 3.5 goals scored in the game. Interestingly, you can get on this market at a price of 2.20 with Betway, which offers particular value if (like me) you expect Sporting Braga to score in the game. This would also make for an excellent free bet, as the 3.5 goal betting line introduces a little more risk and potentially higher returns.
- Tip 3: Bet on Bellingham to Score 2 or More Goals: Golden Boy winner Jude Bellingham has become an instant hit in Madrid, scoring an astonishing 13 goals in just 14 starts from midfield, while assisting a further three. He’s also the joint-top scorer in the UCL group stages, with three goals to his name so far. Bellingham also scored a brace as Madrid beat bitter rivals Barcelona in La Liga recently, so there’s obvious value in backing the Englishman to score two or more goals against Braga at a competitive price of 5.00 with LegendPlay.
1️⃣ Real Madrid Update
While Los Blancos’ 3-1 defeat to city rivals Atletico on September 24th may have been painful, it remains the team’s sole loss in 18 matches dating back to May. This sequence has included 12 wins in 15 games this season, while Madrid have scored 29 goals and conceded just 11 (while keeping an impressive seven clean sheets). I’ve already touched on the impact of Jude Bellingham, who has scored a staggering 44.8% of Madrid’s goals this season, but this statistic also highlights Real’s failure to successfully replace Karim Benzema in the summer. Veteran Joselu is Madrid’s second highest scorer with five goals in 14 games, but Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo have only contributed five in 26 appearances between them this term.
Last 5 Games | |
---|---|
Real Madrid 0 Rayo Vallecano 0 | 05.11.23 La Liga |
Barcelona 1 Real Madrid 2 | 28.10.23 La Liga |
Braga 1 Real Madrid 2 | 24.10.23 Champions League |
Sevilla 1 Real Madrid 1 | 21.10.23 La Liga |
Real Madrid4 Osasuna 0 | 07.10.23 La Liga |
Madrid are still without first choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and seasoned centre back Éder Militão, both of whom are continuing their recovery from ruptured cruciate ligaments and are long-term absentees. French midfielder star Aurélien Tchouaméni has also been ruled out until the New Year, after suffering a fatigue fracture on October 28th.
Player | Reason |
---|---|
Thibaut Courtois | Ruptured Cruciate Ligament |
Éder Militão | Ruptured Cruciate Ligament |
Aurélien Tchouaméni | Fatigue Fracture |
2️⃣ Braga Update
Prior to hosting Madrid in gameweek three, Braga’s seven clashes had yielded a staggering 31 goals at a rate of 4.42 per game, while their 10 Primeira Liga matches have now produced 47 goals (29 for and 18 against) at a rate of 4.70 per 90 minutes. These numbers highlight the side’s tremendous attacking quality and their vulnerability in the defensive third, although it’s the latter that may prove ultimately decisive in Madrid. Certainly, the side’s defensive issues appear to have been exacerbated by the enforced absence of right back Víctor Gómez through injury, but it should be noted that the defeat to Los Blancos in gameweek remains their only loss in nine outings since September 20th.
Last 5 Games | |
---|---|
Braga 6 Portimonense 1 | 04.11.23 Primeira Liga |
Braga 1 Casa Pia 1 | 01.11.23 Taca da Liga |
Gil Vicente 3 Braga 3 | 28.10.23 Primeira Liga |
Braga 1 Real Madrid 2 | 24.10.23 Champions League |
Rebordosa 0 Braga 2 | 19.10.23 Taca de Portugal |
While right back Gomez may be a significant loss to Braga (he has now missed a total of seven matches since September 29th with a muscle injury), the good news is that Braga are otherwise at full strength ahead of their trip to Madrid!
Player | Reason |
---|---|
Víctor Gómez | Muscle Injury |
👕 Real Madrid vs Braga - Potential Lineups
Pos. | Real Madrid 4-3-1-2 | Braga 4-2-3-1 | Pos. |
---|---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | K. Arrizabalaga | Matheus | Goalkeeper |
Right Back | D. Carvajal | J. Mendes | Right Back |
Centre Back | D. Alaba | J. Fonte | Centre Back |
Centre Back | A. Rudiger | S. Saatçı | Centre Back |
Left Back | F. Garcia | A. Marin | Left Back |
Midfielder | F. Valverde | R. Zalazar | Midfielder |
Midfielder | L. Modric | Al-Musrati | Midfielder |
Midfielder | E. Camavinga | Pizzi | Midfielder |
Attacking Midfielder | J. Bellingham | A. Djaló | Wide Forward |
Striker | Joselu | S. Banza | Striker |
Striker | V. Junior | Bruma | Wide Forward |
✒️ Lewis Humphries – Expert Tipster
Lewis Humphries is an experienced football writer and tipster from the UK. He writes regularly about the Champions League, Premier League, Serie A and other competitions, regularly delivering expert match predictions and betting insights. He also successfully predicted the winner of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, while accurately forecasting the outcome of several group stage and knockout games.
Lewis doesn't just stick to sports; you can also find plenty of casino gaming content. He's reviewed some of the world's leading online casino platforms, while creating blog posts and landing page content for various sports betting brands. His content has also been featured on a number of different sites, including Life Hack, Investopedia, Yahoo Finance and Business Insider. He also pens regular sports features for sites including 90 Minutes, Think Football Ideas and Sportsblog.