Arouca and Rio Ave go head to head at the Estadio Municipal de Arouca as round 13 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga gets underway on Saturday.
The Arouquenses head into the weekend fresh off the back of booking their place in the round of 16 of the Taca de Portugal and will be looking to keep the juggernaut rolling.
Match preview
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Arouca extended their unbeaten run over Gil Vicente to 12 games as they cruised to a comfortable 4-1 victory over the Gilistas in round four of the Taca de Portugal on Tuesday.
In a game where Villodres and Lucas Cunha received their marching orders, former Las Palmas striker Rafa Mujica turned in a performance of the highest quality quality as he struck a hat-trick at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos to send the visitors through to the round of 16.
Arouca now turn their attention to the Primeira Liga, where they secured successive victories for the first time since August last weekend as they edged out Vizela 1-0 at the Estadio do FC Vizela.
Armando Evangelista's side are now unbeaten in each of their last eight matches across all competitions, picking up five wins and three draws since a 2-1 home loss at the hands of Boavista on September 11.
Arouca have picked up five wins, four draws and lost three of their 19 games this season to collect 19 points and sit eighth in the Primeira Liga table, level on points with seventh-placed Portimonense.
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Rio Ave, on the other hand, picked up a third consecutive home victory for the first time this season as they saw off Boavista 1-0 when the sides squared off last Sunday.
Following a drab first half at the Estadio dos Arcos, Emmanuel Boateng came up clutch for the home side as he netted the only goal of the game in the 64th minute to hand Os Axadrezados their fifth defeat of the season.
While Rio Ave have won each of their last three home matches, they have struggled to get going away from home, where they are winless in their seven matches, claiming three draws and losing four, including a 3-2 loss against third-tier side Oliveira Hospital in the Taca de Portugal on October 16.
Luis Freire's side, who finished first in the Segunda Liga last season to confirm their return to the top flight, are currently 12th in the Primeira Liga standings after picking up 15 points from their first 12 matches.
Team News
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Sema Velazquez marked his first appearance of the year in style as he scored the fourth goal against Gil Vicente on Tuesday and we expect the Venezuelan defender, who recently recovered from a long-term ACL injury, to be involved in the matchday squad this weekend.
Vitinho Vitinha has missed the last three matches after picking up an injury against Vitoria de Guimaraes on October 23 and the former Corinthians man remains out of contention for Arouca.
Off the back of a man-of-the-match performance in the Taca de Portugal, Mujica, who now has six goals in all competitions this season, should retain his role in the front three, alongside Antony Alves and Andre Bukia.
As for Rio Ave, Freire will be unable to call upon the services of Portuguese midfielder Joco, who picked up an injury against Braga on September 11.
Real Valladolid loanee Paulo Vitor is also a doubt for the visitors after coming off injured midway through the game against Boavista last time out.
With his winner against Os Axadrezados last time out, Boateng now has three goals in his last four matches and the Ghanaian international will be one to keep an eye out for.
Arouca possible starting lineup:
Arruabarrena; Esgaio, Basso, Opoku; Correia, Sylla, Soro, Simao; Arsenio, Mujica, Bukia
Rio Ave possible starting lineup:
Jhonatan; Sa, William, Santos; Costinha, Gomes, Baeza, Guga, Ferreira; Boateng, Aziz
We say: Arouca 2-1 Rio Ave
Arouca head into the weekend on a fine run of form, claiming five wins and three draws in their last eight matches across all competitions. Rio Ave have endured a poor run away from home this season and we are backing the Arouquenses to come away with a fourth consecutive victory.
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