Fernando Pérez
On Thursday, the 2023 edition of the Conference League will determine its last qualifiers for the round of 16, with the highlight of the day being the match between Fiorentina vs Braga. The third most important European competition will decide which team will secure a ticket to Switzerland for next Friday’s draw.
Fiorentina, despite collecting 13 out of 18 points, was relegated from first place in their group by İstanbul Başakşehir. On the other hand, Braga finished third in their Europa League zone, behind Union Berlin and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, both of which have been great revelations this season.
JefeBet has all the information, odds, and predictions for what promises to be an exciting match between Fiorentina vs Braga. Keep reading to find out more about it!
Predictions, Odds, and Betting Odds for the Fiorentina vs Braga Conference League Playoffs Second Leg Game on February 23, 2023
- Where: Artemio Franchi Stadium, Firenze, Italy.
- When: Thursday, February 23, 2023, 3:00 PM E.T.
- BetMGM: Fiorentina (-135) / Tie(+280) / Braga(+320).
- DraftKings Asian Handicap: Fiorentina (-0.75, -115) / Braga(+0.75, -130 ).
- Over/Under (2.5): Over (-130), Under (-110).
- Both teams score: Yes (-130) / No (-110).
All odds courtesy of BetMGM and DraftKings.
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Betting on Fiorentina
Fiorentina heads into a crucial match after a 1-1 draw against Empoli at home, which ended a run of two consecutive defeats in Serie A, thanks to Arthur Cabral’s goal five minutes before full time.
Vincenzo Italiano’s team has been struggling at home, sitting eight points away from the relegation zone and far from qualifying for European cups. Therefore, their focus is on the upcoming competition, especially after their 4-0 win last Thursday in Portugal.
In the last eight matches, Fiorentina conceded a goal in all but one, the 4-0 win against Braga. Their last clean sheet was in a 1-0 win over Sampdoria for Copa Italia on January 12. This suggests that the visitors will not leave empty-handed.
After resting some players in the previous match, the coach is expected to field the same team that impressed their fans last week at the Estadio Municipal de Braga.
Probable Fiorentina lineup (4-3-3): Pietro Terracciano; Dodô, Nikola Milenković, Igor, Cristiano Biraghi; Sofyan Amrabat, Giacomo Bonaventura, Alfred Duncan; Nicolás González, Riccardo Saponara, Luka Jović.
Betting on Sporting Braga
Artur Jorge is aware that his team, Braga, will need to play a flawless game to overcome the deficit in their upcoming match against Fiorentina. To achieve this, Braga will aim to replicate their impressive performance in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, where they currently sit in third place, trailing only Benfica and Porto, two of the standout teams in the current Champions League.
Braga heads into the match with a 2-0 victory over Arouca, their fourth win in their last five matches. The goals were scored by Abel Ruiz and Simon Banza, which gives them hope for a possible comeback in Florence. In their last five matches, Braga has scored a total of nine goals, averaging almost two goals per game.
Probable Braga lineup (3-5-2): Matheus; Nuno Sequeira, Sikou Niakaté, Paulo Oliveira; Víctor Gómez, Ricardo Horta, Uros Racic, Ali Musrati, Iuri Medeiros; Abel Ruiz, Simon Banza.
JefeBet Prediction
On the upcoming Thursday, two strong contenders for the Conference League title will face off, and only one will remain in the running for the championship.
Despite their ongoing struggles, Fiorentina holds a result that should secure their spot in the top sixteen of the competition, barring any unexpected setbacks. Braga, on the other hand, will need to unleash their full attacking potential if they wish to entertain any hopes of a stunning comeback.
French striker Simon Banza, who has already scored nine goals this season, is the standout player for Braga. He is a player of remarkable current form, and his release clause is estimated at around 40 million euros. Meanwhile, Fiorentina boasts Luka Jović, who has established himself as a key player in the starting eleven based on his excellent performances and goal-scoring ability.
With Fiorentina’s propensity for attacking intensity but weakness in keeping clean sheets, and Braga’s underdog status and nothing to lose, the match promises to be an evening full of emotions.
Prediction: Both teams score (FIO 2 – BRA1).
