Tondela v Braga: survival fight meets top-six push | OneFootball

Tondela host Braga in Liga Portugal on Sunday, 18 January 2026 at Estádio João Cardoso, with the hosts trying to climb out of the relegation zone and the visitors looking to strengthen their top-six standing.

Braga have had the upper hand in this fixture, including a 3-0 home win on the opening day in August 2025. The visitors arrive sixth, while Tondela are 17th and in the drop zone.

Cristiano Bacci's side have lost four of their past five league games, the exception a 3-1 home win over Arouca. Carlos Vicens' team drew 2-2 with Benfica and 3-3 at Estrela Amadora in their last two league outings, with cup results swinging either side of those matches.

Across the season, Braga have scored 31 and conceded 18, averaging 64% possession with 87.25% pass accuracy. Ricardo Horta and Rodrigo Zalazar sit on six league goals each, while Leonardo Lelo has supplied four assists. Tondela have 12 goals, 29 conceded and 43% average possession, with only two clean sheets.

If the pattern holds, Braga could control the ball and look to Horta or Zalazar for the end product, with their 50.29% shooting accuracy hinting at a clinical edge. The hosts may need compact organisation and sharp breaks to unsettle a side comfortable in possession.

A win would lift Tondela to 15 points and could move them towards safety. Braga would reach 30 points with victory and could climb from sixth to fifth.