Santa Clara vs Braga – News and Probable Lineups

After failing to secure a win against Braga for six years, a Santa Clara team still facing relegation threats welcomes the Europa League semi-finalists to Estadio de Sao Miguel for their match in round 31 on Sunday.

This eleven-match streak underscores the hosts’ struggles, as they have not managed to defeat their Minho-based opponents, who are currently nine positions higher in the Primeira Liga standings.

Match overview

Just when it seemed that Santa Clara was on the verge of confirming their safety in the top tier, Petit’s squad is once again nervously eyeing the bottom of the table.

The Ponta Delgada club had a five-match unbeaten stretch from late February to late March, achieving three wins in a row against Vitoria Guimaraes (2-0), AFS (1-0), and Gil Vicente (1-0), allowing them to pull eight points clear of second-bottom Tondela and six above Nacional in the relegation playoff spot.

Yet, their recent inability to secure victories in the last three fixtures, with only one point from a possible nine due to losses against Sporting Lisbon (4-2) and Rio Ave (2-0), along with a draw against Casa Pia (0-0), has dimmed the confidence in Ponta Delgada, as the Azoreans are now merely three points above Casa Pia, who are in the playoff position.

Returning to Estadio de Sao Miguel, where they have tallied 17 of their 29 points, which represents 58.6% of their total, will be welcomed by Petit’s side.

Improving upon this record will greatly rely on which Santa Clara team appears on Sunday in a matchup where they have historically not fared well.

The Azoreans have suffered eight defeats in the 11 encounters with Braga across all competitions since achieving two consecutive victories in June and September 2020. Braga approaches Sunday’s match with awareness of their dominance, having secured six wins in the last seven contests, contributing to four clean sheets.

The most recent two encounters have resulted in a 5-0 and a 1-0 victory for Carlos Vicens’s squad, further emphasizing the away team’s strength against Santa Clara.

Nonetheless, it will be intriguing to observe the level of motivation amongst the Archbishops on Sunday, in light of their current standing in fourth: they find themselves 15 points behind third place and are unlikely to catch Sporting, with only four matches remaining, while holding an eight-point advantage over fifth-placed Famalicao.

As the visitors gear up for their Europa League semi-final first leg against Freiburg, they might prioritize their European endeavors over a league match that appears relatively low risk.

Regardless, the hosts, who are out of form, will need to perform effectively to secure a result against Vicens’s team, whose tally of 30 points accumulated in 2026 trails only Benfica (36) and Porto (33), highlighting Os Arsenalistas’ reliability.

Team News

Matheus Araujo has yet to see action in 2026 due to a knee injury, while Henrique Silva will sit out one match due to a suspension from accumulated yellow cards.

Even though Vinicius Lopes enters Sunday as Santa Clara’s top scorer, with six goals, he has only found the net once since the 3-3 draw at Nacional back in January.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Silva has netted three of his four league goals this year, but the Brazilian has not scored in four consecutive appearances, underlining the team’s decline in offensive effectiveness.

Braga’s Gabriel Martinez will be assessed after his injury in the match against Casa Pia in their last outing.

However, Adrian Barisic (groin), Sikou Niakate (Achilles), and Diego Rodrigues (ankle) are all sidelined with injuries, while Joao Moutinho and Pau Victor will both be serving one-match suspensions.

The forward duties will fall to Rodrigo Zalazar and Ricardo Horta, who together have amassed 29 goals, accounting for 50% of Braga’s total of 58 in the 2025-26 season.

Santa Clara probable starting XI:

Baptist; SOARES, Lima, Venancio, Romao; Tavares, Ferreira, Serginho; SILVA, Patience, Lopes

Braga probable starting XI:

Hornicek; Lagerbielke, Oliveira, Moscardo; Gomez, Gorby, Navarro, Lelo; Ticknaz; Zalazar, Horta

Braga may be mindful of their upcoming Europa League semi-final, yet they still have ample depth and organization to leave the Azores without a defeat.

Given Santa Clara’s recent downturn in form and a lengthy winless streak in this fixture, it suggests that the visitors should be at least able to manage a draw.