Rio Ave and Sporting Lisbon are in action in round 18 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga when they go head to head at the Estadio dos Arcos on Saturday.
Both sides head into the weekend off the back of contrasting cup results, with the visitors suffering a penalty-shootout defeat against rivals Benfica in the Taca da Liga final.
Match preview
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Rio Ave turned in a fine attacking display last Sunday as they cruised to a 3-1 victory over Casa Pia at the Estadio Pina Manique to reach the quarter-finals of the Taca de Portugal.
Kiko Bondoso and Clayton both hit the target inside the opening 15 minutes to put the visitors in a comfortable lead, and after Henrique Pereira pulled one back for Casa Pia in the 42nd minute, substitute Tiago Morais struck in the 82nd minute to see off a late comeback scare from the home side.
Head coach Petit will hope their cup triumph can serve as a catalyst for an upturn in form as they turn their focus to the Primeira Liga, where they have struggled for consistency of late, failing to win four of their most recent five matches since picking up successive victories over Boavista and Moreirense back in November.
With the season at its midway point, the Vilacondenses will be hoping for a much better second half of the campaign as they currently sit 10th in the Primeira Liga standings, level on 20 points with ninth-placed Famalicao.
Rio Ave will take pride in their performance at home this season as they head into the weekend as one of just two sides yet to suffer defeat at home in the league, claiming four wins and four draws from their eight matches, and are unbeaten in their last 20 competitive matches at the Estadio dos Arcos since October 2023.
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On the other hand, Sporting Lisbon were denied their first piece of silverware for the season last Saturday as they were beaten on penalties by rivals Benfica in the Taca da Liga final after a 1-1 stalemate in normal time.
After falling behind to Andreas Schjelderup's 29th-minute equaliser, Viktor Gyokeres netted on the stroke of half time to draw the Leoes level and take the game to extra-time, but with nothing to separate the two teams after 30 minted, Benfica secured a 7-6 win in the shootout, with Francisco Trincao failing to convert from the spot.
Prior to that, Sporting Lisbon were on a run of six back-to-back games without defeat across all competitions, picking up two draws and four wins, including a 2-1 extra-time victory over Santa Clara in the fifth round of the Taca de Portugal.
Rui Borges's men now return to action in the Primeira Liga, where they are on course to secure consecutive league titles for the first time since 1954 as they sit top of the table with 41 points from 17 matches, one point above second-placed Porto.
Sporting Lisbon will be backing themselves to bounce back from their Cuo heartbreak as they take on an opposing side who have failed to win any of their most recent nine encounters, losing six and claiming three draws since a 2-1 victory in September 2019.
Team News
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Rio Ave will have to cope without the services of English forward Jonathan Panzo, who has missed each of the last 19 games since sustaining a knee injury back in October.
Clayton, who is the Vilacondenses' leading scorer in the league with nine strikes, will also sit out this weekend's clash due to a one-game suspension after crossing the yellow card threshold with his booking against Gil Vicente on January 6.
With his strike against Benfica last time out, Gyokeres now boasts 50 goal contributions for club and country this season and the 26-year-old striker should lead Sporting Lisbon's attack once again.
On the injury front, Borges will be unable to name the Portuguese trio of Daniel Braganca (muscle), Nuno Santos (ligament) and Pedro Goncalves (muscle), who continue their spells on the sidelines.
Brazilian defender Matheus Reis was a notable absentee in last Saturday's final against Benfica due to a muscle injury and the 29-year-old is also out of contention for this weekend's clash.
Rio Ave possible starting lineup:
Miszta; Vrousai, Petrasso, Santos, Richards; Tiknaz, Neto, Novais; Bondoso, Morais, Aguilera
Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Israel; Quaresma, Diomande, St. Juste, Araujo; Catamo, Morita, Hjulmand, Quenda; Trincao, Gyokeres
We say: Rio Ave 0-3 Sporting Lisbon
Still licking their wounds from their Taca da Liga heartbreak, Sporting Lisbon will be looking to clean the dust off their feet this weekend and open up a four-point lead at the top of the table.
While we expect Rio Ave to put up a fight in front of their home supporters, Borges' side boasts the firepower needed to get the job done and we are tipping them to secure all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
