Sports Mole previews Thursday's Taca de Portugal clash between Vizela and Braga, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Braga head into Thursday's Taca de Portugal tie at Vizela knowing that this competition represents their biggest chance of claiming silverware this season.

At a time when Braga sit 13 points adrift of the leaders in Primeira Liga, Vizela are a respectable 13th spot in their first campaign back in the top flight.

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Match preview

All things considered, Braga are where everyone expected them to be before the season, sitting in fourth place in Primeira Liga and having qualified for the Europa League knockout stages.

However, Carlos Carvahal cannot be satisfied with just four victories coming from their last nine games in all competitions, with at least five goals being conceded in two of their four defeats.

Although Braga ended a three-game winless streak at the weekend, a narrow 1-0 triumph over bottom-of-the-table Belenenses will not go far to easing the mood at the Braga Municipal Stadium.

On a more positive note, four victories have come from six league games, even with top goalscorer Ricardo Horta failing to net in his last two outings.

These two teams met in the league as recently as November 30 with Braga running out 4-1 victors on that occasion.

When seeing that Vizela have won just two of their 14 top-flight fixtures this season, it is easy to assume that all is not well at Estadio do Futebol Clube de Vizela.

However, they have only suffered three defeats from their last 13 games in all competitions, those setbacks coming against Benfica, Braga and Porto.

At a time when they sit two points above the bottom three, boss Alvaro Pacheco must be satisfied with their efforts this season, particularly away from home with six points coming from their last five away games.

Nevertheless, they have not won at home in the league since the middle of August, their only success on familiar territory during that time coming against Estrela in this competition.

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Team News

Pacheco will almost certainly make a number of changes to his Vizela XI with Nuno Moreira among the players who could be handed a recall.

Cassiano is in line to replace Brazilian compatriot Guilherme Schettine in attack, while American Alex Mendez may feature on the right flank.

While Carvahal will also tinker with his Braga starting lineup, a strong team is still expected to be picked on Thursday evening.

Chiquinho and Abel Ruiz could feature in the final third, the pair lining up alongside Horta.

Bruno Rodrigues was required to replace Raul Silva in the centre of defence against Belenenses and the youngster could deputise here.

Vizela possible starting lineup:
Charles; Kouao, Wilson, Aidara, Ofori; Zagbayou, Paulo; Mendez, Samu, Moreira; Cassiano

Braga possible starting lineup:
Matheus; Oliveira, Rodrigues, Leite; Couto, Musrati, A. Horta, Moura; Ruiz, Chiquinho, R. Horta

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We say: Vizela 0-2 Braga

Despite being comfortable with their efforts this season, the Vizela squad will not have forgotten about their recent heavy defeat to Thursday's opponents. With that in mind, we expect Braga to run out routine winners. body check tags ::

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