Monaco – Braga, Picks and Tips
Monaco is in very poor shape. Clement's team has only one win in their last 5 games in all competitions and they go into the return leg against Braga in very low spirits. The Monegasques have fluctuated a lot this season, as evidenced by their place in the standings. This is despite the squad that Monaco have. One that is well above the average of the Ligue 1 and that has stars like Volland, Martins and Ben Yedder. Only 8th position for the team coached by Clement. It's true, the distance from the top 5 is not a big one, 6 points, but the way Monaco has evolved this season, no position can be guaranteed to the Monegasques. On the other hand, if the level of play were to increase, the Principality could certainly make a strong claim for a Champions League place. Until the next round of Ligue 1, Monaco wants to turn the scoreline in Portugal and thus the fate of qualification. The Monegasques played very modestly in the first leg, but as I said, the potential of Clement's team is high. And at the Stade Louis II, Monaco played well in the group stage matches. Two wins and a draw. And in the championship the team has been good in the games played in front of their own fans. Monaco has suffered only three defeats and seven wins. The record is also very good. +13 in Ligue 1 and +2 in the Europa League. Will the hosts be able to turn the tide of qualification in the Monaco - Braga duel?
Braga comes to France to defend the result of the round. The Portuguese will sit back from a two-goal lead and try to strike on the counterattack. The hosts went into this double as second best, but are now one-and-a-half points clear of the quarter-finals. Braga don't have fond memories of their last Europa League trip, though. It wasn't so long ago, in the previous round, in the first leg against Sheriff Tiraspol, when the Carlos Carvalhal-coached side lost 0-2 away to the Moldovans. Such a scoreline would take the match in the Principality into extra time. And it would be exactly the same scenario as in the previous round's group game, when Braga overturned the first-leg result and advanced after scoring a third goal in extra time. Except not according to the new rules, any win by two goals difference for the hosts will take the game into extra time. So the fate of qualification is not quite decided. And coupled with the fact that Monaco have players of great quality, I think the match will be more than interesting. Braga have not done well in away matches in the Europa League. In the group stage, the Portuguese won on one away leg, 1-0 at Ludogorets, and lost the other two away. In return Carvahal's side scored on each occasion. In total, the team scored 4 goals and conceded 7 in their four away games in Europe. Braga is coming off an unexpected, 0-1 defeat at home to Gil Vicente. The defeat shows that Portugal's 4th-placed team has weaknesses, which all the more can be exploited by a quality side. As is the case with their opponent in Thursday night's match. Will the visitors manage to come out of the Monaco-Braga duel undefeated again?
Our recommendation tip for Monaco – Braga: BRAGA OVER 5,5 CORNERS @ 1.70