Union Saint-Gilloise vs Sporting Braga Prediction: Ivanovic can inspire USG

Union Saint-Gilloise have won their last two Europa League matches to put themselves in a strong position to make the knockout phase and potentially a place in the top eight. On Thursday (20:00, TNT Sports 8), they host former finalists Sporting Braga, who are just outside the qualification spots for the next round and who have failed to win any of their away games in the league phase, losing 3-0 at Olympiacos and Roma, either side of a 1-1 draw at Elfsborg. 

Aside from a 5-1 cup thumping at Antwerp, Les Unionistes are unbeaten since October 27th and could have too much for a team that struggles on the road in continental competitions.  

Union Saint-Gilloise vs Sporting Braga Odds

Union SG are 21/20 to win, with the draw 13/5 and Braga 5/2.  

Backing over 2.5 goals would have landed in the pair's previous meetings and is 8/11 to be repeated. 

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Union SG will be without Kevin Mac Allister, who serves his second suspension of this season's Europa League after picking up three yellow cards since returning from a ban for a red in September's win over Fenerbahce. 

Charles Vanhoutte and Anan Khalaili are also suspended, while Sofiane Boufal and Henok Teklab are injured. 

Braga goalkeeper Matheus is also absent after his dismissal against Roma. 

Union Saint-Gilloise to win and both teams to score @ 13/5

The defeat at Antwerp was an anomaly in Sebastien Pocognoli's side's recent past, with that their only loss in 16 in all competitions and they have been generally exciting to watch. 

Of those games, both teams have scored in 11, while over 2.5 goals were netted in seven of Braga's eight outings prior to Sunday's 1-0 win at Estrela. 

USG are unbeaten in the duo's previous meetings, both in October 2022. They won 2-1 in Portugal before they played out a 3-3 draw at the Joseph Marien Stadium the following week.  

Les Unionistes have also conceded in their last two Europa League home matches and, although Os Arcebispos have netted in only one of their three away trips in the league phase, they can at least improve that record and contribute to an entertaining game.

Franjo Ivanovic anytime scorer @ 13/8

USG's Franjo Ivanovic, 21, netted both goals in the matchday six win over Nice, becoming the youngster Croatian player to score a brace in a European game since Dinamo Zagreb's then-teenage attacker Marko Pjaca netted a hat-trick against Celtic in 2019. 

Following a decent 2023/24 and a fast start to this campaign, Ivanovic moved to Belgium from Rijeka last August and has made a decent go of it on the outskirts of Brussels. 

The Austrian-born Croatian under-21 international was most recently on target with the winner at Charleroi on January 11.  

With him expected to start on Thursday, he is a live chance to grab another goal. 

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