Rio Ave vs Famalicao Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Portuguese Primeira Liga
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THE FACTS
When is Rio Ave vs Famalicao on and what time does it start? Rio Ave vs Famalicao will take place on Saturday 16th September, 2023 – 15:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Rio Ave vs Famalicao? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Rio Ave vs Famalicao on in the UK? Some Portuguese Primeira Liga matches are televised on either TNT Sports or Viaplay Sports in the UK so it is worth checking their schedules
Where can I Rio Ave vs Famalicao in the UK? If televised on either TNT Sports or Viaplay Sports, the match can be streamed on their respective streaming platforms
THE LOWDOWN
RIO AVE
In recent years, a few sides have been able to get into the Portuguese top-flight and then establish themselves comfortably in the middle-of-the-table. Rio Ave, with Luis Freire in the dugout, have been able to do that last season and they have managed to keep hold of Freire with a few key members of their squad, too.
In their opening four matches of the 2023/24 Portuguese Primeira Liga campaign, Rio Ave have managed just one win so far this season. Their most recent outing was a 1-1 draw away to Casa Pia a couple of weeks ago. That came on the back of back-to-back defeats against Porto and Estoril after starting with a 2-0 defeat of Chaves on the opening day of the season.
FAMALICAO
After a slow start to last season, Famalicao recovered well and ended up finishing in the top-half of the table, even flirting with a run towards the top six and the UEFA Europa Conference League qualification spots towards the latter stages of the season. They have invested smartly into their squad again and, coached by Joao Pedro Sousa, are one of the more vibrant and youthful, attacking sides in the Primeira Liga.
‘Azuis e Brancos’ have started the 2023/24 Portuguese top-flight campaign by collecting seven points from their opening four matches. The visitors surprisingly defeating Braga away from home by two goals to one on the opening day before sharing a goalless draw at home to newly-promoted Moreirense. They were then beaten by a goal to nil at the Jose Alvalade against Sporting before defeating Farense 1-0.
THE TEAM NEWS
RIO AVE
Luis Freire will want to keep an unchanged lineup from a couple of weeks ago before the break but he must contend with an injury to Jhonatan against Famalicao.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Magrao; Pantalon, Santos, Sa; Costinha, Oudrhir, Graca, Ronaldo; Joca, Boateng, Hernani
UNAVAILABLE: Jhonatan (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
FAMALICAO
Joao Pedro Sousa is still without the injured Theo Fonseca but has a fully fit and available squad bar that with the expectation that he will name an unchanged eleven for this one.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Junior; Aguirregabiria, Riccieli, de Haas, Moura; Youssouf, Lacoux; Rodriguez, Lilmatta, Aranda; Araujo
UNAVAILABLE: Fonseca (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Both Luis Freire and Joao Pedro Sousa are two of the more progressive and proactive managers in the Portuguese top division. Both of these teams have punched above their weight in recent seasons and they will also both think they have a chance of finishing in the top six and earning themselves European qualification. Whilst it is not necessarily expected to be an overly high-scoring thriller for the neutral, it should still be an entertaining encounter in which both teams scoring seems quite likely.
TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
