Relegation-threatened Famalicao welcome 2021-2022 Liga Portugal 2 winners Rio Ave to the Estadio Municipal 22 de Junho on Saturday.
Joao Pedro Sousa's side sit three points above the relegation playoff position. Meanwhile, Rio Grande have work to do to secure a return to the shores of continental football for the first time since participating in the UEFA Europa League in the 2020-21 campaign.
Match preview
© Reuters
Beginning the current round of league matches, Famalicao are at risk of employing their trade in the second tier of Portuguese football for the first time since 2019, losing nearly double the amount of victories they have achieved so far this season.
Welcoming in the new footballing year with a 2-1 league victory over Vizela on January 6, Sousa's side then progressed to the quarter-finals of the Taca de Portugal four days later after overcoming lower-league opposition Leixoes following extra time at the Sea Stadium.
However, the Northern Portuguese outfit could not carry on with their morale-boosting run when defending Primeira Liga champions Porto put on a four-goal showcase last weekend to bring a clinical conclusion to Famalicao's unbeaten start to 2023.
With another potential defeat enough to leave Sousa's side in the relegation playoff position, currently occupied by Santa Clara, fans of the Famalicenses will hope their side can continue their mini-footballing revival come Sunday evening.
© Reuters
Arriving at the Estadio Municipal 22 de Junho in 10th position in the standings, Rio Ave are seven points adrift of the final European qualification position.
Luis Freire's side have continuously struggled on their travels across the current campaign, picking up only seven points from a possible 24 on offer - a run that has seen Rio Grande register only a solitary three-point haul.
Off the back of a goalless draw against Vitoria de Guimaraes on January 7, Rio Ave's return to the Estadio dos Arcos last weekend ended in disappointment as Freire's side handed Pacos de Ferreira their maiden victory of the 2022-23 Primeira Liga standings.
With only five victories to their name across the current campaign and without a win in a hat-trick of matches, the visiting Rio Grande faithful will hope that they register their first victory of the new calendar year against relegation-threatened Famalicao this weekend.
Team News
Rio Grande manager Luis Freire could make wholesale alterations to his starting XI following their defeat to Pacos de Ferreira.
If Freire does decide to ring the changes, top scorer Abdul-Aziz Yakubu will likely return to the Rio Grande 11 at the expense of Leonardo Acevedo.
Winger Fabio Ronaldo could also feature after coming off the substitutes' bench alongside the aforementioned Yakubu last weekend.
In a similar fashion to his managerial counterpart, Famalicao boss Joao Pedro Sousa could decide to introduce a few faces to the Rio Grande lineup after witnessing a comprehensive defeat to Porto.
In that case, it is unlikely that Rui Fonte will be sacrificed from the starting 11, with the Portuguese striker again expected to spearhead the hosts' attack.
Famalicao possible starting lineup:
Junior; Penetra, Mihaj, Junior, Moura; Colombatto, Assuncao; Jaime, Pablo, Rodrigues; Fonte
Rio Ave possible starting lineup:
Jhonatan; Patrick, Sa, Santos; Costinha, Guga, Samaris, Vitor; Baeza, Ronaldo; Yakubu
We say: Famalicao 2-1 Rio Ave
After registering four home victories out of seven across the current 2022-23 Primeira Liga campaign, we predict that Famalicao will continue their rich vein of form in front of their supporters on Sunday evening.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
