Sporting Braga vs Maccabi Petah Tikva Prediction: Portuguese to apply severe pressure

After suffering a disappointing exit to Qarabag in the knockout round play-offs in February, Sporting Braga make their return to the Europa League on Thursday (20:30) in the first leg of their second qualifying round tie with Maccabi Petach Tikva.

Ahead of the game at Estadio Municipal de Braga, you can check out my Sporting Braga vs Maccabi Petach Tikva prediction below, where you will also find all the latest team news and match odds.

Football Odds

Team News

Braga finished fourth in the Portuguese Primeira Liga last season and lifted the Taca da Liga for the fourth time in their history. They've since added the likes of Bright Arrey-Mbi, Thiago Helguera, Amine El Ouazzani and Gabri Martinez to their ranks, but have also lost the services of Alvaro Djalo, Rodrigo Gomes, Moatasem Al-Musrati and Abel Ruiz.

Maccabi Petach Tikva finished eighth in the 2023/24 Israeli Premier League but gained entry to the qualifying rounds of the Europa League after winning the Israel State Cup in May. Mohamad Hindi was the hero in that final as his 86th-minute penalty proved to be the decisive strike, and the defender will be one of the first names on the Maccabi teamsheet this week.

Sporting Braga vs Maccabi Petach Tikva Odds

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Braga are big favourites to take a lead into the second leg, with odds of 1/6 giving the Portuguese side an implied win probability of 85.7%, while Maccabi can be backed at 12/1, or a 7.7% chance.

The draw is available at 5/1, both teams to score at 5/4, and over 2.5 total goals at 8/15.

Braga to win both halves @ 6/5

Braga started the 2023/24 campaign in the Champions League but were demoted to the Europa League knockout round play-offs after finishing third in Group C.

Regardless, they proved a stubborn outfit at home, holding Union Berlin to a 1-1 draw and only narrowly losing to Napoli and Real Madrid (both 1-2).

Maccabi Petach Tikva, meanwhile, haven't appeared in European competition since the 2006/07 season, when they featured in the Intertoto Cup, and only finished seven points above the relegation zone in their domestic league.

They deserve plaudits for their cup success, but there should be big jump in quality between them and Braga on Thursday.

At home, Braga will want to lay a marker down and ensure they head into the second leg in a comfortable position, and that means they are unlikely to take their foot off the gas even if they are leading at half-time.

Bet Builder - Over 3.5 corners in each half & Braga to win by 2+ goals @ 23/10

I think Braga should run out comfortable winners on Thursday, winning by at least two goals, and we can get the odds up by adding at least four corners in each half.

The Portuguese side are likely to be dominant in the first leg, and that should mean them keeping plenty of possession in the visitor's half, creating plenty of opportunities and working the goalkeeper.

As a result, corners could fall their way and help to land this 23/10 shot.

Offers

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