Champions League
2012-09-19 - Sporting Braga vs Cluj
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: European Champions League
Wednesday 19 September 2012 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Sporting Braga
Benfica, Porto and Sporting Lisbon are the 'big names' of Portuguese football, but Sporting Braga are well known after a recent appearance in the Europa League Final where they fell to compatriots Porto. They have qualified for the Champions League Group Stage for the second time in the last three years after beating Udinese in the Play Offs on a penalty shoot-out.
Braga are 7th in the Portuguese domestic League having picked up 4 points from their opening three League games and they have not played a competitive game since the beginning of the month so should be fully concentrated on this game. With Galatasaray and Manchester United making up the Group, it is no surprise that Braga are putting a lot of weight into winning this game.
They lost their first competitive game of the season last time out at Pacos de Ferreira, but have had a couple of weeks to get past that result. Braga have won 2 of their last 3 home games since losing back to back League games here, while they are 5-2-2 in the last 9 games they have played here in the Europa League. Their only Champions League season saw them finish with 4-1-1 record as they were knocked out in the Group Stage.
Carlao is the only absentee in the Braga squad ahead of this game.
CFR Cluj
CFR Cluj were not involved in the Champions League last season, but they are becoming a recognised name having participated in the 2010-11 and the 2008-09 Group Stage of the competition. The side have some chances of qualifying for the last 16 for the first time if they can spring a couple of surprise results against Braga and Galatasaray, while Manchester United are probably going to win the Group.
They are currently 5th in the Romanian Liga I and have a 6 point deficit to make up on Steaua Bucharest. Cluj have at least picked up some momentum by going on a 4 game unbeaten run, of which they have won 3 games, and they did knock out Basel in the Play Offs to make it through to this stage. That was impressive considering Basel made the last 16 last season at the expense of Manchester United.
The side have won 8 of their last 10 away games in all competitions and have only lost 1 of those games. That run includes 2 away wins in the Champions League earlier in the campaign to get through to the Group Stage. Prior to those wins, Cluj had lost 5 straight games away from home in the Champions League.
Diogo Valente has travelled with the squad, but is unlikely to be given a starting berth. Vasile Maftei is suspended for the game.
Head to Head
This is the first competitive meeting between these sides.
Prediction
I had a feeling for both sides to get on the scoreboard in this game, but a better idea for those thinking that way is to read the excellent ROzsolt preview for this match on the site who has tipped that up and given some solid reasons as to do so.
I agree with the thoughts ROzsolt has for the game, but I also felt Sporting Braga are going to be a little too strong for Cluj in this game and will also win the game and you can pick that up at 2.50 at Ladbrokes.
Braga have already made it clear that they need the three points as they have away games at Galatasaray and Manchester United to follow this and they may already be in an unenviable position without the win in this one.
On the other hand, I feel Cluj shouldn't be under-estimated as they did win away games in the qualifiers to get into the Group Stage, including one in Basel, but I just feel they are still getting their experience in this competition.
They are facing a team that has been pretty strong at home in the last couple of seasons in Europe, going 9-3-3 in that time, but I do think Cluj will get on the scoresheet.
With that in mind, I would rather be on the 2.50 being offered that Braga win with at least 3 goals scored than on them at the short prices to win the game or to clear any handicaps.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Sporting Braga 2-1 CFR Cluj
