Rio Ave and SC Farense face off at Estadio dos Arcos on Saturday seeking their first Primeira Liga victories in the round two fixture.
In their league-opening matches, the Porto-based club were beaten by the defending Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon, while their Faro opponents lost to 10-man Moreirense.
Match preview
![Luis Freire (coach of Rio Ave) during Liga Portugal game between CF Estrela Amadora and Rio Ave FC at Estadio Jose Gomes, Amadora, Lisbon, Portugal on April 14, 2024 [on August 7, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/32/luis-freire.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Luis Freire (coach of Rio Ave) during Liga Portugal game between CF Estrela Amadora and Rio Ave FC at Estadio Jose Gomes, Amadora, Lisbon, Portugal on April 14, 2024 [on August 7, 2024]")
© Imago
A week removed from their 3-1 loss to Sporting, last season's 11th-placed side hope to record their first win of the 2024-25 league campaign.
Despite ending in the competition's bottom half in the previous campaign, the 11th-placed side had the eighth-best home record in 23-24, ending the season with a 12-match undefeated run in front of their supporters.
Luis Freire's men seek to protect their unbeaten streak that stretches back to November 2023, keen to get the better of the last team that beat them on home soil when they lost to this weekend's opponents 4-3.
Since that loss in late October, Rio Ave have notched five wins and seven draws and hope to extend that run on Saturday.
© Reuters
Farense twice came from a goal down in that seven-goal thriller against this weekend's hosts, scoring two in the game's closing stages to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 win.
Claudio Falcao and Rui Costa notched the game-changing goals, and Jose Mota will hope for improved execution from his players despite Costa's summer departure to FC Tobol.
The visitors must recover from last weekend's 2-1 home defeat to Moreirense, despite their gameweek one opponent playing the last half-hour with 10 players after Sidnei Tavares's sending-off.
However, Mota's men must show a different version of the side that notched just one road victory in their final seven away matches of the previous season, losing five and playing out one draw.
Despite beating Rio Ave in the corresponding fixture last term, much has changed at both clubs since, and it remains to be seen if Leoes de Faro can secure a repeat success this weekend.
Team News
© Imago
Ole Pohlmann should have shaken off the issue that forced him off late on against defending champions Sporting last weekend.
Clayton scored a debut goal for Rio Ave in the loss, and the Brazilian hopes to add to that tally as the home side seek maximum points.
Marco Matias is doubtful for Farense following last week's injury that saw the wide attacker withdrawn before the hour.
Rivaldo starred in the 2-1 home loss, setting up Alex Bermejo's goal, and the right-back is expected to keep his spot in defence.
Rio Ave possible starting lineup:
Jhonatan; Pantalon, Santos, Nobrega; Vrousai, Novais, Oudrhiri, Morais; Graca, Gomes; Clayton
SC Farense possible starting lineup:
Velho; Rivaldo, Moreno, Africo, Talys; Neto, Falcao; Belloumi, Soares, Bermejo; Poveda
We say: Rio Ave 1-1 SC Farense
Despite losing five of their previous seven road matches dating back to 23-24, Farense have found the net in all but one match during that run. We expect their goalscoring form to continue this weekend, even if the spoils are expected to be shared against a Rio Ave side that have not lost on their turf since November 2023.
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