On Thursday, Union SG will resume their Europa League campaign as they strive for a third consecutive win. They significantly enhanced their prospects of advancing before the end of the year.

Following their elimination from Champions League qualifying, the Belgian team faced a challenging beginning in the league phase of Europe's second - tier competition. In their first four outings, they had two draws and two losses.

Sebastien Pocognoli's side would then put their first three-point haul on the board with a 1-0 win away at Twente, thanks to Mohammed Fuseini's early goal, before making it back-to-back triumphs as Franjo Ivanovic fired them to a 2-1 home victory over Nice in December with the decisive goal coming in injury time.

Those results formed part of a 13-game unbeaten streak for Les Unionistes, and after seeing that end in a Belgian Cup defeat to Royal Antwerp in early January, they return on the back of consecutive Belgian Pro League victories, most recently beating Leuven 1-0 on Sunday thanks to Promise David's penalty.

Union SG, currently occupying a playoff position due to their improved form in European competitions, are just one point behind the seeded positions and also maintain the same one - point buffer within the top 24. They will attempt to secure a third consecutive victory to further fortify their chances of advancing.

On the other hand, their opponents are traveling to Belgium with the intention of overtaking the hosts and returning to the top 24 prior to the final round of league - phase matches.

Braga, having fought through three rounds of qualifying to enter the Europa League, began their campaign with a win against Maccabi Tel Aviv. However, in their subsequent three outings, they managed to accumulate only one additional point.

Carlos Carvalhal's side were able to bounce back to winning ways on the continent by beating Hoffenheim 3-0 thanks to goals from Bruma, Roger Fernandes and Vitor Carvalho, only to lose by the same scoreline in their last outing away at Roma to slip out of the playoff places.

Os Arcebispos now return to league-phase action on the back of a pleasing start to 2025, having beaten and lost to giants Benfica in the Primeira Liga and Taca da Liga respectively, before booking a Taca de Portugal quarter-final spot by prevailing over Lusitano 1911.

Having then beaten Estrela Amadora 1-0 on Sunday in Portugal's top flight thanks to Amine El Ouazzani's injury-time goal, Braga now turn their focus back to their Europa League bid and will aim to move back into the playoff spots in their penultimate league-phase game with a first away triumph.

Union SG head into Thursday's contest without defender Kevin Mac Allister, midfielder Charles Vanhoutte and winger Anan Khalaili, all of whom are suspended due to accumulations of yellow cards in the league phase.

Top scorer Promise David is ineligible to feature in the Europa League, meaning Franjo Ivanovic will be relied upon to lead the line having netted nine goals this term including two in the Europa League.

He should be joined by Mohammed Fuseini, while Kamiel Van de Perre could take Vanhoutte's place in the midfield alongside Anouar Ait El Hadj and Noah Sadiki in the engine room.

Braga head to Belgium without first-choice goalkeeper Matheus, who is suspended after being sent off in their last Europa League outing against Roma.

In his absence, Lukas Hornicek will come in between the sticks, while Amine El Ouazzani should earn a start up front after scoring their winner off the bench at the weekend.

Danger man Bruma should feature on the wing, having netted a team-high tally of 12 goals this season including three in the Europa League league phase, while veteran Joao Moutinho should return to join Vitor Carvalho at the base of the midfield in a 4-2-3-1 setup.

Union SG possible starting lineup:

Moris; Sykes, Burgess, Leysen; Castro-Montes, Sadiki, Van De Perre, El Hadj, Niang; Fuseini, Ivanovic

Braga possible starting lineup:

Hornicek; Gomez, Niakate, Arrey-Mbi, Ribeiro; Moutinho, Carvalho; Fernandes, Horta, Bruma; El Ouazzani