Two sides who could do with a win lock horns in round 10 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga as Rio Ave play host to Boavista at the Estadio dos Arcos on Sunday.
The Vilacondenses head into the weekend on a run of five consecutive defeats across all competitions while the visitors have failed to win any of their last four league outings since mid-September.
Match preview
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Rio Ave failed to stop the rot as they suffered a somewhat disappointing 4-3 defeat against Farense when the sides squared off at the Estadio dos Arcos last Sunday.
With nothing to separate the sides after a thrilling first half, Costinha converted his 62nd-minute penalty to put the hosts 3-2 up, but Claudio Falcao and Rui Costa scored stoppage-time goals to turn the tie on its head.
With that result, Rio Ave have now lost five games on the bounce, a run which saw their Taca de Portugal campaign come to an end in the third round courtesy of a 2-1 loss against Torreense.
Luis Freire's men have also failed to win any of their last nine matches across all competitions, losing seven and claiming two draws since a 2-0 victory over 10-man Chaves on August 13.
Rio Ave have picked up just five points from a possible 27 this season and currently find themselves bottom but one in the Primeira Liga standings, one point above last-placed Estoril Praia.
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Boavista, on the other hand, failed to arrest their slump in the Primeira Liga as they fell to a 2-0 defeat against Sporting Lisbon at the Estadio do Bessa on Monday.
In a one-sided affair, Geny Catamo and Portuguese forward Pedro Goncalves scored in either half to hand Ruben Amorim's side a fifth straight league win and extend their lead at the top of the table.
While Petit's men reached the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal with a 3-1 win at Oliveirense on October 22, they have now gone four consecutive league games without a win, losing twice and claiming two draws since.
For all their recent Primeira Liga struggles, Os Axadrezados are currently sixth in the league standings with 15 points from nine matches, four points behind fourth-placed Vitoria de Guimaraes.
While Boavista will be looking to find their feet on Sunday, they go up against an opposing side who are unbeaten in 15 of their last 18 meetings, claiming 12 wins and three draws since September 2014.
Team News
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Rio Ave remain without the services of 27-year-old midfielder Joca, who is set to sit out his sixth consecutive game after picking up a knee injury in September's game against Famalicao.
Andre Pereira was forced off injured in the 71st minute against Farense last time out and the former Porto man is a major doubt for the Vilacondenses.
Should he fail to shake off the injury, Colombian forward Leonardo Ruiz will push for a place in the XI, teaming up with Bruno Ventura and Ghanaian striker Emmanuel Boateng.
Meanwhile, Boavista will take to the pitch without 22-year-old forward Pedro Malheiro, who has missed the last five matches after picking up a muscle injury against Chaves on September 18.
Veteran goalkeeper Cesar Dutra is yet to feature for Os Axadrezados this season and the 31-year-old, who is currently recuperating from an ACL injury, will also play no part in this weekend's game.
Rio Ave possible starting lineup:
Jhonatan; Sa, Santos, Nobrega; Costinha, Guga, Oudrhiri, Ronaldo; Boateng, Pereira, Ventura
Boavista possible starting lineup:
Goncalves; Agra, Awaziem, Abascal, Ferreira; Watai, Perez; Morais, Reisinho, Makouta; Bozenik
We say: Rio Ave 1-2 Boavista
Rio Ave have endured a stuttering start to the new campaign and currently find themselves scrambling for points at the wrong end of the table. Boavista have been decent away from home, where they have picked up three wins and one draw in their five matches this season, and we fancy them claiming a narrow victory this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
