Overview: Braga vs Maccabi Tel Aviv

Estadio Municipal de Braga will serve the next Europa League match between Braga and Maccabi Tel Aviv. The home side looks confident after winning in their last game as they scored three goals and did not allow their opponents to score. They also have a home-field advantage and will do their best to progress to the next stage of the tournament. Besides, Ricardo Horta is another reason why the hosts could score goals as he is one of the top scorers and will play his best to help his team to win the upcoming game and take the lead. The fans are also on a winning streak as they managed to win their last nine games, but it will not be easy to keep winning in Braga, especially when Ido Shahar might be away for their next match. However, the guest’s chances to win are quite decent as the team is in good form.

• Match: Braga vs Maccabi Tel Aviv
• Match Number: Matchday 2
• Date and Time: 27 September 2024, 12:30 AM
• Venue: Estádio Municipal de Braga, Braga, Portugal

SWOT of Braga Against Maccabi Tel Aviv

Strengths:
Braga has a strong home record, particularly in European games, where they’ve made their ground a fortress. The return of Bright Arrey-Mbi from suspension strengthens their defence, whereas Ricardo Horta has been in great form and provides a big threat on the wings. In addition, the team coordination and tactical discipline of Braga have ensured that they perform well at home.

Weaknesses:
In as much as their defence has been good, there is some vulnerability whenever they come under high pressure, displaying a slowness in the transition of the ball, leading to a quick counter-attack, and Braga could be vulnerable to such kinds of attacks. Moreover, whenever Horta was mark-man, Braga lost creativity and was unable to create clear-cut chances.

Opportunities:
There are notable injury concerns for Maccabi Tel-Aviv, with Ido Shahar their central midfielder a doubt. In turn, the defensive shape of the Maccabi team could be compromised, thereby enabling Braga to control the game whilst having higher possession. Moreover, it is a game for Braga to ignite their Europa League campaign after a lacklustre display in their first game. It’s a chance to make a significant win before their home fans.

Threats:
The good form of Maccabi Tel-Aviv is a notable threat. Their nine-game winning streak shows their form is awesome and thus a challenge for Braga. The overcautiousness in dealing with their quick counter-attacks could prove costly for Braga whereas their rich experience in these kinds of games shows they are a big threat, as evident in their vast exposure in international competitions.

SWOT of Maccabi Tel Aviv Against Braga

Strengths:
Maccabi Tel Aviv is currently riding on a nine-game winning streak and, thus, has a lot of momentum heading into the contest. The team’s attacking unit has had good output by creating many chances and converting them. The team also has experience with European competitions, allowing them to remain composed in high-pressure situations. Their attacking players can be prolific and give their opponents many problems. Along with their disciplined defensive organization, Maccabi can be a very challenging team to play against.

Weaknesses:
Maccabi will play this encounter at a fortress, with Braga having had a lot of success playing at their home. The Israeli squad also faced many problems when playing away from such exact venues in the past. Their key midfielder, Ido Shahar, will not play and instead undergo an operation. It will deprive them of an important player, helping the team to perform their usual roles. There was also an occasional problem with their defence when playing against high-pressing teams, which can be exploited by Braga.

Opportunities:
Their opponent’s defence has sometimes been vulnerable to fast attacks, offering Maccabi an opportunity to expose the opposing defence with fast counter-attacks. The visiting squad might be able to nullify the host’s key players, particularly Ricardo Horta, making Braga less effective in their offensive moves. A decisive result in the contest would also be significant for their confidence and place in the group stage of the Europa League.

Threats:
Maccabi can expect their opponents from the host to be very strong. Playing at their home ground, Braga will have all the advantages, especially since one of their key defenders, Bright Arrey-Mbi, should be available for the match. They have proficient attacking players like Horta, capable of being prominent during the game. Maccabi’s defense will likely be under quite a bit of pressure, as it will last throughout the duration of the match. The visiting team will also face the challenge of being overwhelmed by the full intensity and noise of Estadio Municipal de Braga, making certain errors.

Comparison and Prediction

One of the most thrilling Europa League matches of the season seems rather predictable as S.C. Braga is likely to continue their dominance and confirm the status of favorites playing against Israeli giants Maccabi Tel Aviv. One of the reasons is the home form of the Portuguese club, as it was a very challenging invitation to Estadio Municipal de Braga recently. The main strength of the home side is the quality of the offensive line as Ricardo Horta appeared unstoppable on the wings, demonstrating remarkable speed and technical ability that made his moves almost impossible to predict. Moreover, the visitors do not necessarily have a monster that cannot be handled by S.C. Braga – Yellow-and-Black is going to benefit as Bright Arrey-Mbi is back in defense to limit the number of great chances on their goal. At the same time, the away team is also in great shape, winning nine games in a row in all competitions. However, the inability to retain possession and a more robust and hotter defence are likely to be the main problems for Israelis when it comes to breaking tight defence and goalkeeping performance of the home side in front of enthusiastic fans. Finally, the injury issues with one of the key midfielders, Ido Shahar, make it impossible for the Israeli side to compete at this high level in the final third of the pitch. Overall, S.C. Braga is a more experienced and decisive team, especially in home matches, when the defence infrastructure appears to be solid. Maccabi Tel Aviv’s quality seems to be impressive due to recent results, however, the strength of the Yellow-and-Black on both ends of the pitch provides the visitors with an advantage that is likely to be decisive.