Fresh off the back of picking up their first win of the 2024-25 Primeira Liga campaign, Estoril Praia journey to the Estadio dos Arcos to face Rio Ave on Saturday.
The Vilacondenses will head into the weekend looking to make it three home victories on the bounce for the first time since November 2022, having seen off Farense and Arouca in the first two games in front of their supporters.
Match preview
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Rio Ave continue to struggle for results on their travels as they suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of newly-promoted AVS when the two sides squared off at the Estadio do Desportivo das Aves last Saturday.
Following a goalless first half, 25-year-old striker Vasco Lopes came up trumps for AVS as he netted the only goal of the game in the 72nd minute to fire them to a second consecutive home victory.
Rio Ave have now lost each of their three away games this season — conceding six goals and scoring once — and have failed to win any of their last 27 games on the road, losing 13 and claiming 14 draws since a 2-0 victory at Santa Clara in March 2023.
While Luis Freire's men have been abysmal on their travels, they have been rock-solid at the Estadio dos Arcos, where they are unbeaten in 13 straight games since last October, picking up seven draws and six wins, including consecutive victories over Farense and Arouca in their two games this season.
The Vilacondenses will be backing themselves to maintain their impressive home form this weekend as they take on an opposing side against whom they are unbeaten in six of their last seven Primeira Liga encounters, picking up four wins and two draws since March 2017.
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Estoril Praia, on the other hand, had to work their socks off to secure their first win of the season as they edged out newly-promoted Nacional 1-0 at the Antonio Coimbra da Mota last weekend.
In a game where Ulisses Wilson received his marching orders, Joao Carvalho pounced on Lucas Franca's loose clearance in the 19th minute to convert from 35 yards out and hand the visitors all three points.
This was a much-needed result for Estoril Praia, who had failed to win their previous seven Primeira Liga matches — losing five and claiming two draws since the start of May — a run which saw them finish 13th in the table last term.
Next up for Ian Cathro's men is a journey to the Estadio dos Arcos, where they have failed to win their last three visits, losing twice and claiming one draw since scraping a 2-1 victory in October 2016.
While Estoril will be looking to end this poor run and secure consecutive league wins for the first time since March, results away from home offer little optimism as they have gone 13 straight Primeira Liga games without a win on the road, stretching back to a 1-0 victory over Porto on November 3.
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Team News
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Despite the defeat against AVS, we expect to see a similar starting XI this weekend, with Renato Pantalon, Aderllan Santos and Jonathan Panzo forming the back three, while Amine Oudrhiri and 31-year-old Joao Novais should retain their roles at the centre of the park.
At the attacking end of the pitch, we should see an unchanged front three of Tiago Morais, German forward Ole Pohlmann and Vasco da Gama loanee Clayton, who has played every minute this season and scored two goals.
As for Estoril, Cathro will be unable to call upon the services of Scottish midfielder Jordan Holsgrove, who continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after coming off injured against Braga in January.
Togo international Kevin Boma picked up an injury in the game against Nacional last time out and the 21-year-old is a doubt for this weekend's clash.
Former Leeds United man Helder Costa was also forced off injured shortly after half time in the aforementioned game and the 30-year-old could be replaced by Alejandro Marques in the starting XI.
Rio Ave possible starting lineup:
Jhonatan; Pantalon, Santos, Panzo; Vrousai, Oudrhiri, Novais, Richards; Morais, Clayton, Pohlmann
Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:
Robles; Carvalho, Alvaro, Mangala, Amaral; Zanocelo, Xeka, Costa; Marques, Begraoui, Carvalho
We say: Rio Ave 2-1 Estoril Praia
Buoyed by their win over Nacional, Estoril Praia will head into Saturday's clash with renewed confidence as they look to put together a fine run of form. However, Rio Ave have made the Estadio dos Arcos a tough ground for any visiting side and we predict that they will bounce back from their defeat against AVS this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
