Friday's Bet Of The Day: Underdogs underrated in Portugal

JACK Wright's (@JackWright_BSB) Bet of the Day continues on Friday as we head to Portugal.

Braga vs Moreirense | Friday 14^th May 2021, 21:15

As I spent some time scanning a relatively thin Friday fixture list to find a contest that had at least one team with something to play for to provide a decent Bet of the Day, it came as a massive surprise to see Braga priced up as massive odds-on favorites in their clash with Moreirense.

My original reason for checking that fixture was for an angle on corners however seeing Carlos Carvalhal’s side chalked up as short as 4/9 it made me firstly double check the league table then secondly realise there was a strong case for exploring the double chance market.

The Archbishops have secured qualification to the Europa League group stages for next season, they are guaranteed fourth place, 10 points behind Benfica in third, 10 points ahead of fifth placed Pacos Ferreira – with two games remaining they are the poster campaign for “nothing to play for”.

In contrast after defeating Portimonense on Monday, Moreirense kept their own dreams of European qualification alive sitting just two points behind Vitoria Guimaraes so will be highly motivated to gain a positive result against a Braga side who are winless in four and have tasted victory just once in their last seven games.

With nothing at stake, Carlos Carvalhal is expected to rotate key players like Matheus, Ricardo Esgaio, Sequeira, Galeno, Al Musrati or Ricardo Horta here with his side looking ragged in recent games – but the visitors should feel confident of taking something away from the game despite a poor recent head-to-head form.

Draws with both champions Sporting and runners up Porto in the last eight games, albeit at their own stadium will give Vasco Seabra hope his side can end a run of three successive defeats against their hosts and also avenge the 4-0 hiding they suffered in the reverse fixture at Parque Joaquim de Almeida Freitas.

Paddy Power are offering 7/5 for Moreirense and the draw in a double chance so to get the stalemate on side at odds still nicely above evens is a bet I am prepared to take, given both these sides have drawn five of their last ten fixtures, so that particular outcome would not be the biggest surprise.