Europa League Quali, 3rd round, first leg, Thursday, 08.08.2024 at 21:30
I’ll submit my Braga Servette Geneva betting tip before Thursday along with one or two lucrative sports betting bonuses from various providers.
I am also in a confident mood. Because of the strong offense of both sides, I am prepared for a 2:1, 3:1 for the host, but also a possible 2:2, with which the Swiss could certainly live quite well.
In terms of quality, I think SC Braga are worthy Champions League contenders, but they might be better off in the Europa League.
Because in this competition, the player material available to them would be more sufficient to advance to the knockout phase.
And the “Arcebispos” have started the new campaign like a team looking to finally lift this trophy in 2024/25 after losing the final 14 years ago.
In the 2nd qualifying round, they swept over Israeli first division side Maccabi Petha Tikva like a level nine hurricane.
Braga SC won the first leg 2:0 in their own stadium with the characteristic rock wall behind them, but then really flexed their muscles in the second leg against the Israelites (5:0).
Rodrigo Zalazar was the only player to score a goal in both games, which were won in commanding fashion. He also provided two direct assists in the second leg.
The fact that the Bet365 app shows unexpectedly high odds of around 3.75 on the cell phone display for a goal from the midfielder with a lot of forward movement is therefore an excellent opportunity to place a bet
Of course, Uruguayan midfielder Zalazar will not enjoy quite as much freedom as he did last week against the Israelis, but the opponent is certainly beatable.
However, Servette are a club on the rise. The Swiss side have qualified for a European club competition eight times since the turn of the millennium, including four times in the last four years.
They even made it to the last 16 of the Conference League in the 2023/24 season, so SC Braga would be well advised not to underestimate Geneva at any time.
Braga will play a good season, I’m convinced of that. However, their upcoming opponents have several advantages that they will take with them to the Estádio Municipal.
On the one hand, for example, the team from Geneva have already started the domestic league competition. However, I consider the fact that their start to the season has been almost perfect to be more significant.
Servette started with victories over Lucerne (2:1), Young Boys (3:1) and Yverdon (3:2), before Lugano (1:3) quickly put paid to their supporters’ nascent championship hopes.
Nevertheless, hats off to these performances
Note: Each of Servette Geneva’s four competitive games so far this season has seen both teams involved contribute to at least three total goals.
That could also be the case next Thursday in faraway Portugal.
Especially as both the odds for “Both teams to score” and the odds for “Over 2.5 goals” from the bookmakers, which are 1.63 and 1.70 respectively, are convincing in this respect.
My extra tip: In combination with the Bet365 code, you can combine both events with the bookmaker of the same name and thus significantly increase your potential winnings.
Braga spent far too much money in 2024/25 not to at least qualify for the main round of the Europa League.
More than half a dozen players moved to the “Arcebispos” for transfer fees in the millions.
In my opinion, the costly €6 million deal, which saw one of the best German second division players of the 2023/24 season arrive, shows that the money was well spent.
This refers to the signing of Bright Arrey-Mbi, who has just transferred from Hannover 96.
There have been no direct encounters between the two rivals to date, but there have been some between SC Braga and Super League clubs.
In the 2011/12 and 2015/16 seasons, Braga knocked both Young Boys and FC Sion, now back in the top flight, out of the respective European Cup competitions.
Interesting with regard to my Braga Servette Geneva prediction: In three of these four first and second legs, the two options I predicted were fulfilled (over 2.5 goals & both teams score).
Conclusion: On Thursday, SC Braga will face Servette Geneva at the Estádio Municipal, and fans can look forward to an exciting clash.
Both teams are characterized by their offensive strength, which also points to a high-scoring game.
While Servette’s first results of the new season are promising, the sheer quality of the hosts shows that they are among the Europa League favorites.
Nevertheless, it should be a tight affair!
My tip: Over 2.5 goals & both score
