Real Madrid v SC Braga Prediction, Odds and Betting Tips

🏆 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.

💯 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

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.

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.

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.

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!

👕 Real Madrid vs Braga - Potential Lineups

✒️ 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.