Rio Ave will be hoping to go three games unbeaten in the Primeira Liga when they take on Estrela Amadora at Estadio do Rio Ave Futebol Clube on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts are currently in 16th place in the league standings with nine points after 11 games, while the visitors are 12th and two points ahead of their opponents.
Match preview
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After finishing last season in a very respectable 12th place and well clear of the drop, Rio Ave have it all to do if they are to pull away from the relegation scrap leading up to the halfway point of the season.
Vilacondenses Rioavistas have managed just two wins this campaign, leaving them three points above bottom club Arouca, but a loss here could see them drop to the foot of the table if the two sides below them win their fixtures.
However, an under-pressure Luis Freire managed to get his side to the international break with four points in their last two games, beating Boavista at home and drawing against Gil Vicente on the road last time out.
While the time off would have given the Rio Ave boss a chance to address his side's issues over the first 11 games, they have not played a competitive match in almost a full month and now need to hit the ground running against an opponent that are also in desperate need of a positive result.
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Meanwhile, Estrela will come into this match, having had the benefit of getting a full 90 in the bank after taking on Vizela in the Taca de Portugal last weekend.
Unfortunately for the Tricolours, their run in the cup came to an end as they were beaten 2-1, with Matheus Pereira scoring the winner in the second half of extra time after Leo Jaba was sent off.
That result meant that Estrela lost all three matches in November, including against Sporting Lisbon and Moreirense in the league, and that caused them to slip two spaces in the Primeira Liga standings as well.
Nevertheless, Sergio Vieira's side have laid a promising platform for themselves in their first season back in the top flight, and a win here will give them some much-needed breathing room from the relegation battle brewing just over their shoulders.
Estrela were defeated in their last two matches against this opponent in the Segunda Division back in the 2021-22 season, but having only lost to Benfica and Sporting on the road this term, they cannot be ruled out of this one just yet.
Team News
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Jhonatan has started the last four matches on the bounce for Rio Ave since returning from injury and should continue between the sticks in this match.
Joca has missed the last six games through injury but is expected to be available for selection, though he may have to settle for a place on the bench as he works his way back to full speed.
Jaba's red card against Vizela in the Taca de Portugal means that he will be forced into a watching brief for this one, and he will be joined on the sideline by Bruno Brigido, who has a muscle injury.
Kialonda Gaspar picked up a knock while on international duty for Angola in the CAF World Cup Qualifiers against Mauritius, though he has not been ruled out just yet.
Rio Ave possible starting lineup:
Jhonatan; Sa, Santos, Nobrega; Costinha, Guga, Amine, Ronaldo; Ventura, Pereira, Boateng
Estrela Amadora possible starting lineup:
Guimaraes; Lopes, Otieno, Gaspar; Felipe, De Souza, Cordeiro, Reis; Martins, Kikas, Tavares
We say: Rio Ave 1-1 Estrela Amadora
While the hosts had shown signs of life leading up to the international break, they have been away from competitive action for the best part of the last month. Still, they have fared well against this opponent in the past, and while Estrela did play in the cup last weekend, their performance was not convincing. We are expecting a tight contest and feel these sides will end level at the final whistle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Devesh Jaganath
