Two sides who picked up contrasting results last time out lock horns on Saturday as Rio Ave play host to Casa Pia at the Estadio dos Arcos on Saturday.
The Vilacondenses head into the weekend unbeaten at home in the league this year, having picked up six wins and seven draws from their 13 games, and will head into the weekend looking to extend this impressive streak.
Match preview
Rio Ave continue to struggle for results in the bottom half of the Primeira Liga table as they suffered a 5-0 hammering against Benfica when the two sides squared off at the Estadio da Luz last Sunday.
Turkey international Kerem Akturkoglu turned in a clinic in front of the home supporters as he netted a first-half hat-trick to put the hosts in a commanding lead before substitutes Andreas Schjelderup and Zeki Amdoubi hit the target to cap off a brilliant team performance.
Prior to that, goals from Fabio Ronaldo, Aderllan Santos and Ahmed Maghoub helped Rio Ave edge through the third round of the Taca de Portugal on October 19 when they saw off third-tier Atletico CP in extra time at the Estadio da Tapadinha.
With last Sunday's result, Luis Freire's men have failed to win their last five Primeira Liga outings, losing three and picking up two draws since beating Arouca 1-0 on September 1 courtesy of a first-half penalty from Clayton.
Rio Ave have lost five of their nine league games this season while claiming two wins and two draws to collect eight points and sit 14th in the standings, just four points above rock-bottom Farense.
Casa Pia, on the other hand, turned in a solid defensive display last Friday as they held on to see out a 1-0 victory over Nacional when the two sides squared off at the Estadio Pina Manique.
In an action-packed contest, a total of 34 shots were fired between the two sides, but Ruben Kluivert's 39th-minute strike proved to be the difference as the hosts held firm to secure their third league win of the campaign.
Having suffered defeat against Boavista, Benfica and Santa Clara in their opening three games, Casa Pia have upped the ante, claiming three wins and two draws from their subsequent six matches while scoring seven goals and keeping two clean sheets.
This upturn in form has seen Javier Pereira's men surge to ninth place in the Primeira Liga standings, and they could move level on 14 points with seventh-placed Moreirense with a win this weekend.
While Casa Pia will be looking to make it three wins on the trot for the first time since November 2022, they must see off the challenge of an opposing side who are unbeaten in five of their last six clashes, claiming three wins and two draws since December 2021.
Team News
Rio Ave will have to cope without the services of Greek forward Marious Vrousai, who is a major doubt after missing the game against Benfica through injury.
He is joined on the club's injury table by 22-year-old defender Francisco Petrasso, who has been ruled out since suffering a game-ending injury midway through the cup clash against Atletico on October 19.
As for Casa Pia, Pereira will be without the services of backup goalkeeper Ricardo Batista, who picked up a red card while on the substitutes' bench against Nacional last time out.
On the injury front, Os Gansos will take to the pitch without Portuguese forward Henrique Pereira, who has missed the last four games since coming off injured against Moreirense in September.
The attacking duo of Kiki and 23-year-old Claudio Mendes also continue their spells on the sidelines while Duplexe Tchamba is currently recuperating from a muscle problem.
Rio Ave possible starting lineup:
Miszta; Panzo, Santos, William; Tome, Tiknaz, Novais, Richards; Bondoso, Clayton, Aguilera
Casa Pia possible starting lineup:
Sequeira; Kluivert, Goulart, Zolotic; Geraldes, Kraev, Brito, Lelo; Cassiano, Svensson, Moreira
We say: Rio Ave 1-1 Casa Pia
While Rio Ave have struggled to get going in recent weeks, they will be backing themselves to find their feet this weekend as they return home, where they are yet to suffer defeat in the league this season.
However, Casa Pia have put together a fine run of results of late and we predict that they will do just enough to force a share of the spoils at the Estadio dos Arcos.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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