ABC Braga — Benfica: 34:39, Andebol 1

Benfica took three points away at Braga in Andebol 1 on Saturday, winning 39-34. The visitors extended their unbeaten run to six matches, while the hosts remain winless in their last five home fixtures.

By then Braga had already climbed to seventh with eleven points from five games. Benfica sit third on fourteen, unbeaten in six, and the gap between them narrowed only slightly after this result.

Both sides came into the fixture in mixed form. Braga had won two of their last five, drawing two and losing once, while Benfica's recent record included a heavy 38-20 victory over Avanca and a narrow defeat to Sporting. The away side held their nerve against a Braga side that had been hard to break down at home.

Our prediction called for the visitors to come out on top, with 72 per cent confidence. It was a reasonable assessment given Benfica's consistency away from the Marão, and they delivered when it mattered.

The scoreline tells a simple story, but the context is what fills it in. Benfica are still chasing a top-two finish, and Braga are trying to move off the bottom half of the table. Three points either way keeps both sides in the hunt.