Seeking to pick up successive home wins for the first time this year, Rio Ave welcome Chaves to the Estadio dos Arcos in round 22 of the Primeira Liga on Sunday.
Luis Freire's men head into the weekend unbeaten in each of their last four home games against the Flavienses since April 2018 and will be looking to keep the juggernaut rolling.
Match preview
© Reuters
Chaves were sent crashing back to earth in the Primeira Liga as they suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of league heavyweight Porto when the sides squared off last Saturday.
In a cagey affair at the Estadio do Dragao, Brazilian full-back Wendell set up Toni Martinez, who tucked home the only goal of the game in the 44th minute to hand the hosts a sixth league win on the trot.
This followed a 2-0 home victory over Estoril Praia on February 13, when Andre Pereira and Joao Graca scored second-half goals to edge out the Canarinhos and end their six-game winless run.
The Vilacondenses now return home, where they are unbeaten in five of their last seven matches, claiming four wins and one draw while scoring six goals and keeping four clean sheets since the start of October.
With 24 points from 21 matches, Rio Ave are currently 12th in the Primeira Liga standings, level on points with 13th-placed Famalicao, but could potentially rise to eighth place with all three points this weekend.
© Reuters
Chaves, on the other hand, were denied consecutive home wins for the first time this year when they were beaten 3-2 by Sporting Lisbon at the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira on Monday.
After goals from Pedro Goncalves and Joao Teixeira saw the first half end level, Goncalves and Nuno Santos netted in a nine-minute spell to put the Leoes two goals up before Hector Hernandez halved the deficit with a 96th-minute consolation.
Vitor Campelos's men have now failed to win 10 of their last 11 matches across all competitions — losing five and claiming five draws — with a 2-1 home victory over Maritimo on February 5 being the only exception.
The Flavienses, who returned to the top flight this season following a three-year spell in the Segunda Liga, have picked up six wins, eight draws and lost seven of their 21 matches to collect 26 points and sit 10th in the Primeira Liga table.
While Chaves will be looking to return to winning ways, Sunday's game sees them journey to the Estadio dos Arcos, where they are winless in their last eight visits, losing seven and claiming just one draw since November 2014.
Team News
© Reuters
Rio Ave will be without Portuguese midfielder Joca, who has been out of action since suffering a knee injury against Braga in September.
He is joined on the Vilacondenses' injury table by experienced striker Amine Oudrhiri, who has missed the last four matches through a muscle problem.
Meanwhile, Chaves remain without several key players down the spine of the team as the likes of Jonathan Arriba (muscle), Joao Correia (muscle) and midfielder Sidy Sarr (knee) have been sidelined through injuries.
Nwankwo Obioro came off with a muscle problem in January's game against Vitoria de Guimaraes and the Nigerian midfielder is ruled out of the trip to the Estadio dos Arcos.
The Flavienses will be boosted by the return of defender Bruno Langa, who missed last week's trip to Sporting Lisbon due to a one-game ban for crossing the yellow card threshold with his booking against Vizela on February 10.
Rio Ave possible starting lineup:
Jhonatan; Santos, Sa, Pantalon; Costinha, Graca, Samaris, Guga, Ronaldo; Pereira, Boateng
Chaves possible starting lineup:
Moura; Sylla, Ponck, Vitoria, Langa; Machado, Mendes; Abass, Teixeira, Euller; Juninho
We say: Rio Ave 2-1 Chaves
With just two points separating Rio Ave and Chaves in the league standings, we expect a thrilling contest on Sunday. The Vilacondenses have been solid on home turf this season and we fancy them claiming all three points this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
