Braga vs Leicester City Odds and Preview – Europa League Group Stage Matchday 4

• English Group G leaders seek fourth straight win at 12:55 PM EST in Portugal on November 26th, 2020
• Second-placed Braga were beaten 4-0 in England on Matchday 3
• See all odds and best bets for Braga vs Leicester City Europa League Matchday 4

Leicester City can clinch qualification for the Europa League’s last 32 if they beat  Braga in Portugal on Thursday.

Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester team have dominated Group G and have won all three games so far – including a 4-0 hammering of Braga in England on Matchday 3.

In Portugal, Braga are the form team after five straight wins. But Leicester are fourth in the Premier League despite last weekend’s 3-0 defeat at Liverpool.

UEL Braga vs Leicester City Odds

Odds taken Nov. 25 at DraftKings

Even though Rodgers is expected to make several changes to his first-choice line-up at 12:55 PM EST on Thursday, Leicester are favorites at DraftKings for an away win at +115.

The price for a Braga victory is +220, while the draw is +260 in one of 24 Europa League fixtures on Thursday.

WWW in the #UEL

Our 2020/21 campaign so far ➡️ https://t.co/JYXEpXqf96 pic.twitter.com/a5GvsALWfX

— Leicester City (@LCFC) November 25, 2020

The offer of +115 for any kind of Leicester win is tempting. Alternatively, given the result on Matchday 3, the -1.5 Asian Handicap spread offer of +310 for Leicester to win by at least two goals is adventurously attractive.

Leicester leads the table with nine points in their first Europa League campaign with Braga second on six points.

AEK Athens are third on three points, and Zorya Luhansk are bottom after three straight defeats.

Surprise 2016 Champions Impress Again

Leicester were surprise EPL champions in 2016, and once again this season, they are confirming their status as a major force in the English game.

After six wins and three defeats in this domestic campaign, they are in fourth position  – having finished fifth  last season to clinch Europa League qualification.

Nigeria's Super Eagles striker, Kelechi Iheanacho has heaped praises on English Premier League team, Leicester City over their brilliant performance against Sporting Braga in the UEFA Europa League game at the King Power Stadium on Thursday night. https://t.co/1DL1fZLbBO pic.twitter.com/RDYiwLtRHc

— PM Parrot (@pmparrotng) November 6, 2020

They have been the leading power in Group G after defeating the Ukrainians of Luhansk 3-0 at home on Matchday 1. Not to mention a 2-1 win at AEK Athens and the 4-0 thrashing of Braga.

Striker Jamie Vardy is the joint-third leading goalscorer in the EPL with eight goals.

Kelechi Iheanacho scored the opening two goals in the 4-0 defeat of Braga on November 5th, with Dennis Praet and James Maddison also on target.

But he could be rested  for the game in Portugal – with Rodgers able to call upon the services of stand-in Kelechi Iheanacho who has been in good form in this competition with three goals and three assists to his name.

Iheanacho scored the opening two goals in the 4-0 defeat of Braga on November 5th, with Dennis Praet and James Maddison also on target.

UEL Braga vs Leicester City Statistics

Leading midfielders Harvey Barnes and Youri Tielemans may also be rested on Thursday.

This is because Rodgers must attempt to deal with the physical rigors of the EPL campaign in a season with increased fixture frequency because of the Coronavirus crisis.

Braga are second in Portugal’s Primeira Liga.

Five Straight Primeira Liga Wins

They opened the domestic campaign with two straight defeats. But they have since won five games in succession including, a 3-2 win at Benfica on November 8th.

However, they are not prolific goalscorers with only 12 league strikes compared to the 19 recorded by league leaders Sporting Lisbon and the tally of 17 for third-placed Benfica.

🔸 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣 𝗚 🔸

Predict the top two… 🔮#UEL pic.twitter.com/4xrhFQm9Rd

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) November 17, 2020

This is reflected in the fact that two of their joint leading league scorers  – with just two strikes – are the defenders Melo da Silva Michel and Viana Bruno.

Their most recent result was a 2-1 win against third-level Trofense in the Portuguese cup last weekend.

They won 3-0 at home against AEK Athens on the Europa League’s Matchday 1 before a 2-1 win away at Zorya Luhansk.

Despite their success  this season, this is only Leicester’s fifth European campaign.

But, the 4-0 defeat by Leicester was the biggest win in European competition history for the English club.

Even if Braga beat Leicester, they are highly unlikely to take top place from Rodgers’ team because Leicester have a goal difference of plus eight while the Portuguese team’s figure is zero.

Man United want to sign the 'new Van Dijk' 👀 #MUFChttps://t.co/d0xSKQF61o

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) November 18, 2020

Despite their success so far this season, this is only Leicester’s fifth European campaign.

Their best season was in 2016/17 after their EPL title win. In their debut appearance in the Champions League, they reached the quarter-finals before losing to Atlético Madrid.

Braga are European regulars having qualified for 16 of the past 17 seasons.

2020-21 UEFA Europa League Group Stage: Braga vs Leicester https://t.co/7pL1Sorja7

— Sport Grill (@SportGrillBlog) November 25, 2020

They were Europa League runners up in 2010-11, losing 1-0 against Portuguese rivals Porto in Dublin.

They finished top of their Europa League group last season before exiting in the round of 32 against Glasgow Rangers. In total, Braga have won seven, drawn three, and lost 11 times against English opposition.

Leicester’s only prior trip to Portugal in 2016/17 resulted in a 5-0 group stage defeat at Porto although the English team had already qualified for the knock-out phase.

Pick: Leicester City +310 (Asian Handicap -1.5)