Both Sporting Braga and Porto will come into this match not only having won their most recent game, but also are on an impressive five-match unbeaten streak. This means that each side has accumulated a maximum 15 points from these fixtures and are comfortably in pole position to secure European football for the 2015/2016 Primeira Liga campaign.
Braga currently sit in fourth place, with 46 points and are just one point behind Sporting Lisbon, meaning that a win over Porto would move them into third and into a Champions League berth. They also enjoy a fairly comfortable six-point lead over bitter rivals Vitória de Guimarães, meaning that a loss or draw would still keep them at some distance as the latter portion of this season gets underway.
Their visitors, Porto, powered past bitter rivals Sporting Lisbon courtesy of a hat-trick from Cristian Tello, who currently plies his trade in Portugal whilst on loan from Barcelona, with one of his goals being set up by a brilliant assist from Jackson Martinez. This helps them keep within four points of league leaders Benfica, but with their round of 16 second leg against Swiss outfit Basel just four days after this match, it will be interesting to see how they line-up as Julen Lopetegui hopes to keep his squad fresh as they seek to book their ticket to the final eight.
How Sporting Braga and Porto compare ahead of their clash on Friday, March 6th
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The Dragões also have not conceded a single goal in their last five league games, meaning that they have out-scored their opponents by a total of 13 to zero. Additionally, not only have they scored at least one goal in over 90 per cent of their games on the road, but they have only lost once away from home. However, Braga are no slouches themselves, especially when it comes to their home record. Under Sérgio Conceição, the Arcebispos have won nine out of their 11 home matches, losing only one and drawing one.
Statistically, Braga's record against Porto in league matches is not that great. They last time they earned all three points against their opponents was during the 2009/2010 season, in which a solitary second half-goal was enough to get the job done. Since then, though, they have lost each and every single match-up, including the reverse fixture earlier this season by a score of two to one.
Given this, the hosts will be hoping that their visitors will have one eyes on their European tie just a few days away as they seek to secure what would be a long-awaited win in front of their home support.
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