SC Braga vs Panathinaikos Athens Prediction & Betting Tips - Champions League

Prediction published on 21/08/2023, 15:00  by Sridhar | Modified on 21/08/2023 at 19:20 in Champions League Predictions

One step away from the group stages of the UEFA Champions League, Braga and Panathinaikos will face off in the playoffs. The first leg will be played at the Estadio Municipal de Braga on Wednesday with the return leg scheduled next week. The winner of this two-legged tie will advance to the group stages while the losers will be transferred to the Europa League group stage. Braga will be eager to make this opportunity count, as the last time they played in the group stages of this competition was back in 2012-13. The Portuguese have started their journey in the third qualifying round where they easily brushed away Serbian opponents TSC 7-1 on aggregate. They are coming off a 4-2 win over Chaves in the Portugal Primeira Liga, so the confidence will be high of continuing that winning momentum. They would need all that, considering their record in this competition has been patchy at best. Their twin wins this season have four-game losing streak while they have won just one of their last five Champions League home matches.

Panathinaikos are also looking to address their long-drawn absence from the Champions League group stages. It was way back in 2010-11 that the Greek visitors were in the group stages, so there’s enough motivation to be competitive in this tie. They started in the second qualifying round of this tournament defeating Dnipro-1 5-3 on aggregate before stunning Marseille in the previous round. The French were expected to progress but the Greeks turned it around and won 5-3 via penalties after the two-legged tie ended square at 2-2. The only challenge for the visitors though is that their domestic league hasn’t yet started and their preparations are limited to these matches alone. They are unbeaten in the four Champions League matches this season with three wins and a draw, so there’s enough expertise there to make up for the lack of competitive action. One factor weighing against them though is that they have lost three of their last five away Champions League matches at full-time, winning just once against Dnipro-1.