Separated by just two points and one place in the Primeira Liga standings, Rio Ave and Gil Vicente go head to head at the Estadio dos Arcos on Sunday.
The Gilistas head into the weekend unbeaten in each of their last five outings and will be looking to pick up a third consecutive away win for the first time this season.
Match preview
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Rio Ave failed to move into the top half of the Primeira Liga standings as they suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Braga when the sides met last Sunday.
In a one-sided affair at the Estadio Braga Municipal, Fenerbahce loanee Bruma and French forward Simon Banza scored in either half to hand the hosts their 17th league win of the season.
Luis Freire's men have now failed to win any of their five away matches since the turn of the year, picking up two draws and losing three since their 1-0 win at Maritimo in the Taca da Liga on December 1.
However, the Vilacondenses now return to the Estadio dos Arcos, where they are currently on a run of two back-to-back wins, seeing off Estoril Praia and Chaves respectively while scoring three goals and keeping two clean sheets.
Rio Ave have picked up seven wins, six draws and lost 10 of their 23 matches to collect 27 points and sit 12th in the Primeira Liga table, two points and two places adrift of Sunday's visitors.
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Daniel Sousa's men maintained their unbeaten home run in 2023 as they picked up a comfortable 2-0 victory over Maritimo at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos last Sunday.
Despite being under the cosh for most of the game, Pedro Tiba broke the deadlock midway through the first half to put the hosts ahead before Tomas Araujo made sure of the result with an 82nd-minute strike.
Gil Vicente have now gone five consecutive matches without defeat, claiming three wins and two draws since their 2-1 loss against Pacos de Ferreira at the Estadio Capital do Movel on January 31.
The Gilistas will be backing themselves to pick up a third away win on the trot for the first time this season as they face a Rio Ave side who they are unbeaten against in each of their last five encounters, claiming four wins and one draw since a 1-0 loss in December 2019.
Team News
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Rio Ave will take to the pitch without Portuguese midfielder Joca, who continues his long journey to full fitness after suffering a knee injury last September.
He is joined on the Vilacondenses' injury table by 35-year-old midfielder Vitor Gomes, who has missed the last eight matches through a thigh problem.
Gil Vicente, on the other hand, will be without the services of 22-year-old defender Joao Barros, who is currently recuperating from a muscle injury.
Experienced goalkeeper Stanislav Kritsyuk came off injured in the game against Famalicao on February 12 and the 32-year-old is set to sit out his fourth consecutive game.
Ali Alipour, who scored seven goals in 34 appearances last season, has been ruled out of Sunday's game through a muscle injury and is another big-name absentee for the Gilistas.
Rio Ave possible starting lineup:
Jhonatan; Sa, Santos, Pantalon; Costinha, Graca, Guga, Samaris, Ronaldo; Pereira, Boateng
Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:
Andrew; Carlos, Araujo, Fernandes, Marin; Aburjania, Tiba; Fujimoto, Souza, Boselli; Navarro
We say: Rio Ave 1-1 Gil Vicente
Gil Vicente have put together a fine run of form since the turn of the year and will be looking to continue in the same vein. However, Rio Ave have won their last two home matches and will head into the weekend looking to return to winning ways. With that said, we predict that both sides will cancel out each other's efforts and hold out for a share of the spoils in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
