Two teams desperate to halt their respective losing runs go head-to-head on Monday evening as Rio Ave welcome Boavista to the makeshift Estadio Capital do Movel for round 28 of the Primeira Liga.
This ground now serves as the temporary home for the Rioavistas following the storm 'Depression Martinho', which wreaked havoc on Estadio dos Arcos on March 20 and rendered it unfit to host matches for the foreseeable future.
Match preview
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Having now found a short-term fix for their storm-inflicted stadium issues, Rio Ave will now aim to turn the tide on the pitch, having slumped to four consecutive defeats across all competitions.
Their most recent outing was a 2-0 reverse at Sporting Lisbon in the semi-final first leg of the Taca de Portugal, following on from three league losses to Famalicao, Benfica and Casa Pia.
A 2-0 win over Braga on March 3 remains the Rioavistas's latest success in the Primeira Liga and their only one in eight matches, a stretch which has dragged them from European contention to a scramble to stay above the drop zone.
Rio Ave sit 12th on the table with 29 points from seven wins, eight draws and 12 losses, six points clear of the relegation playoff spot and a distant 17 and 27 points adrift of fourth and fifth, respectively.
The Vilacondenses's biggest shortcoming has been their struggles at the back, having conceded 45 goals this campaign – a figure only topped by Monday's visitors, who have shipped one more.
While both sides rank as the division's worst defences, Rio Ave can at least take some confidence from their output at the other end, with 30 goals scored giving them a decent platform to edge this battle.
At home, Petit's side have shown resilience, recording five wins, six draws and only two defeats in 13 Primeira Liga matches – a record they will look to carry into this clash as their Portuguese manager leads them against his former employers.
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Petit left Boavista after a fifth straight defeat, coming against Estrela Amadora on match day 13 of 2023-24 with the club in 10th, but they only narrowly escaped the relegation playoff by virtue of a superior goal difference, having finished 15th with 32 points.
However, the Chequered Ones have plunged even deeper this season, rooted to the foot of the table, eight points adrift of safety with just seven matches left to play, making Monday's contest a must-win if they are to breathe life into their fading survival hopes.
Like the hosts, Boavista arrive on the back of a three-game losing streak in the league, the most recent being a 3-1 defeat against Gil Vicente last weekend, while their last victory came against Santa Clara and remains their only triumph in 17 outings that also include three draws.
In addition to their defensive lapses, Lito Vidigal's men have been blunt in attack, registering just 17 goals to sit as the division's most toothless side in the final third.
That record is made even more alarming by the fact that Boavista have failed to score in the last three editions of this fixture, while drawing blanks in each of their last five away matches against Rio Ave across all competitions.
Team News
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Francisco Petrasso remains sidelined for Rio Ave, having missed their last seven matches through injury, while Tobias Medina has been absent even longer, and both are expected to stay out.
Clayton, who leads the club's scoring charts with 13 league goals, returns to domestic action after serving a suspension against Casa Pia, though he featured in the midweek defeat to Sporting Lisbon.
For Boavista, Steven Vitoria will be unavailable after receiving a red card while on the bench during the Gil Vicente clash and is now suspended for this tie.
Meanwhile, the visitors will travel without Luis Pires, Joao Goncalves, Marco Ribeiro, Tomas Silva and Filipe Ferreira, all of whom remain ruled out through injury.
On a more positive note, Salvador Agra is back from suspension and is poised to reclaim his spot at right-wing back from Osman Kakay.
Rio Ave possible starting lineup:
Miszta; Tome, Panzo, Ntoi, Vrousai; Tiknaz, Neto, Aguilera; Morais, Clayton, Luiz
Boavista possible starting lineup:
Cesar; Kurzawa, Abascal, Lystsov, Fogning, Agra; Kone, Perez, Reisinho, Ginkel; Bozenik
We say: Rio Ave 1-0 Boavista
Playing away from their traditional turf may pose a challenge for Rio Ave, but facing a Boavista side that has suffered eight defeats in 13 league trips leaves the Vilacondenses well positioned to claim a much-needed win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
