The Round 8 match of the group stage of the 2025/26 Europa League between Go Ahead Eagles (Netherlands) and Braga (Portugal) will take place on 29 january at De Adelaarshorst Stadium in Deventer. Go Ahead Eagles vs Braga: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Go Ahead Eagles
Go Ahead Eagles have had a very difficult European season. Although in October the club produced a couple of shocks by beating Panathinaikos and Aston Villa, the home side has since faded and suffered four consecutive Europa League defeats. Last week the team even lost to Nice 1:3, a side that had been bottom of the group and had not won in this competition for 18 matches. Overall, after seven rounds the Dutch side have only six points and sit 30th in the standings. With these figures Go Ahead Eagles can still fight for a place in the knockout stage, but they must beat Braga and, even if they win, will need to monitor other parallel results.
- In the current Europa League campaign the side have conceded 14 goals in total, a worse record only for three clubs.
- The Dutch side’s uncompromising run in this competition lasts eight games (2 wins, 6 defeats).
- At least two goals have been scored in six of Go Ahead Eagles’ Europa League matches.
Potential Go Ahead Eagles Lineup (4-2-3-1)*
Yari De Busser – Mats Deijl, Aske Adelgor, Joris Kramer, Melle Meulensteen – Kenzo Goudmijn, Evert Linthorst – Jayden Slory, Jakob Breum, Matis Suray – Milan Smit.
Defenders Gerrit Nauber and Pim Sathof and midfielder Robbin Weijenberg are injured.
Braga
Braga secured a narrow 1:0 win over Nottingham Forest in their last Europa League game; the home victory was Braga’s second in a row and their fifth in seven matches in this season’s competition. In these seven matches the Portuguese side have suffered only one defeat, and their current unbeaten run stands at three games (2 wins, 1 draw). In total they have collected 16 points out of a possible 21 and occupy a high fifth place in the table, two points clear of ninth. A win against Go Ahead Eagles will guarantee qualification for the last 16; in case of a slip-up Braga will have to wait on other results.
- Since the start of this Europa League campaign Braga have kept five clean sheets – the best record alongside Lyon.
- The team have won in regular time in 11 consecutive meetings in this competition.
- No more than two goals were scored in six of Braga’s last seven Europa League games.
Potential Braga Lineup (3-4-3)*
Lukas Gornicek – Gustav Lagerbielke, Siku Niakate, Vitor Carvalho – Joao Moutinho, Florian Grillitsch, Mario Dorgeles, Leonardo Lelo – Ricardo Orta, Rodrigo Salazar, Pau Victor.
Midfielder Rodrigo Salazar has returned from suspension, while forwards Amin Al-Wazzani and Sandro Vidigal are unavailable due to injuries.
Prediction For Match Go Ahead Eagles vs Braga
The current Europa League season has seen only a brief autumn surge from Go Ahead Eagles, when over three weeks they recorded two consecutive wins. Since those games the home team have failed to take a single point in four European matches and have lost five of their seven outings overall. The side still has a chance to reach the knockout stage, but to do so they must beat Braga, one of the strongest teams in the group stage.
Braga have dropped only two points across their previous seven matches in this competition. All five victories were clean-sheet wins; during winter the visitors beat Nice and Nottingham Forest by identical 1:0 scores. Including qualification, Braga have won in regular time in nine of their last 11 Europa League matches. Even looking strictly at away results, the team have won four of their last five matches in this competition.
Prediction: Braga To Win
* For each team the starting lineup shown is from their last match in this tournament.
