Union Berlin and Braga will meet on matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League group stage on October 3, 2023. Both teams are making their debut in the competition, and they will be eager to get off to a winning start. This article provides a detailed analysis of the two teams, their key players, and their recent match analysis, as well as a match prediction.
Union Berlin and Braga are two evenly matched teams, both making their debut in the UEFA Champions League group stage in the 2023/24 season. Union Berlin finished fifth in the Bundesliga last season, while Braga finished third in the Portuguese Primeira Liga.
History will be made at the Olympiastadion when Union Berlin hosts their first-ever Champions League game, but the Portuguese side are at least more familiar. Speaking after the draw, Union president Dirk Zingler said: “With Braga, we face an opponent we already know from the UEFA Europa League.” That knowledge came from last season when the sides traded 1-0 victories and Union will be happy if they repeat their home success from those meetings, which came courtesy of Robin Knoche’s penalty.
Union Berlin
Union Berlin is a well-organized and disciplined team, known for their strong home record. They are also very good at set-pieces, and they have scored a lot of goals from them in recent seasons.
Union Berlin’s manager, Urs Fischer, is a very experienced coach. He has been in charge of the club since 2018, and he has led them to promotion to the Bundesliga and to qualification for the Champions League.
Key Union Berlin players
Sheraldo Becker
Taiwo Awoniyi
Christopher Trimmel
Robin Knoche
András Schäfer
Recent Union Berlin match analysis:
Last Five match :
Form: LLLLWW
Most recent result: Union Berlin 0-2 Hoffenheim, 23/09, German Bundesliga
German Bundesliga table
Next Champions League game: Union Berlin vs. Braga, 03/10, Group C
Union Berlin has now lost four consecutive games for the first time since March-May 2020.
Union Berlin have lost their last four matches in all competitions, including a 1-0 loss over Real Madrid in the first match of their Champions League group stage campaign.
Braga
Braga are a very attacking team with a lot of talented players in their squad. They are also very good at scoring goals, and they have averaged over two goals per game in the Portuguese Primeira Liga in recent seasons.
Braga’s manager, Carlos Carvalhal, is a very experienced coach. He has managed a number of clubs in Portugal, England, and Turkey. Carvalhal is known for his attacking style of play.
Key Braga players:
Ricardo Horta
Vitinha
Fabiano
Iuri Medeiros
André Horta
Recent Braga match analysis:
Last Five Match:
Form: WWLLWD
Most recent result: Estrela 2-4 Braga, 28/09, Portuguese First Division
Portuguese Primeira Liga table
Next Champions League game: Union Berlin vs Braga, 03/10, Group C
Braga have scored in all 12 of their competitive games this season (W8 D1 L3), including four in each of their last two matches.
Braga have lost their last two matches, including a 2-1 defeat to Napoli in their first Champions League group stage match.
Match prediction
Braga is in better form than Union Berlin, and Union Berlin has the advantage of playing at home. And, I predict that Union Berlin will win the match.
Did you know?
None of Braga’s previous 13 Champions League group stage matches finished in a draw.
