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THE FACTS
When is Rio Ave vs Porto on and what time does it start? Rio Ave vs Porto will take place on Monday 28th August, 2023 – 20:15 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Rio Ave vs Porto? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Rio Ave vs Porto 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 Porto 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
Much like a few teams in recent years, such as Casa Pia and Chaves, Rio Ave gained promotion to the top-flight and then comfortably stayed up sitting firmly in the middle-of-the-table. Unlike Chaves, though, they have been able to keep hold of their impressive coach, Luis Freire, and Rio Ave may well indeed be looking at pushing towards the top six and the UEFA Europa Conference League qualification spots this season.
The Vilacondenses have started the 2023/24 Portuguese Primeira Liga campaign with different performances, though. They cruised to a 2-0 win against the aforementioned disjointed Chaves before then suffering a 2-0 loss away from home against Estoril with their opposition scoring in the 55th minute and then 98th as Rio Ave poured forward.
PORTO
Last season, Benfica ran away with the title and only a minor blip in the spring gave Porto a sniff of retaining the Primeira Liga title; which they eventually didn’t. Under the management of Sergio Conceicao, they will be expecting to be a lot more serious and consistent at the start of this campaign to put the Lisbon club under a lot more pressure this time around.
The Dragons have started the 2023/24 Primeira Liga campaign with back-to-back 2-1 victories against newly-promoted opposition. The first of their fairly unconvincing wins came away at Moreirense where they were forced to come from behind late on with goals from Toni Martinez and Wendell. They followed that up with a 2-1 win against Farense, requiring a winning goal from Ivan Marcano in the 100th minute of the match.
THE TEAM NEWS
RIO AVE
Rio Ave have a fully fit and available squad so they are unlikely to make any changes for this weekend’s side with Luis Freire set to prioritise some stability.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Magrao; Sa, Santos, Pantalon; Costinha, Oudrhiri, Guga, Ronaldo; Joca, Ruiz, Hernani
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
PORTO
Sergio Conceicao’s Porto side have three injuries ahead of this weekend with the key absentee being Brazilian forward Evanilson, who will not be available for the trip to Rio Ave.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Costa; Joao Mario, Cardoso, Marcano, Sanusi; Pepe, Gonzalez, Eustaquio, Galeno; Martinez, Taremi
UNAVAILABLE: Baro (Injured), Veron (Injured), Evanilson (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Luis Freire’s Rio Ave are one of the stronger sides outside of the top six for this season but they will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2-0 loss away to Estoril in their most recent outing. Porto have been very unconvincing throughout their two matches with two victories in which they have stumbled past newly-promoted Moreirense and Farense. Despite that, Porto remain favourites for this and another game in which they scrape the three points is likely so backing the handicap could be good value.
TIP: RIO AVE +2 HANDICAP