CD Tondela (home)
- CD Tondela are unbeaten in five Primeira Liga games, drawing four times and winning once to move up to 16th in the standings, with 19 points from 24 games.
- Cristiano Bacci’s side have been built to avoid risk and are extremely compact and solid in structure, with players who can transition quickly with the ball.
- Tondela aim to frustrate opponents in deep defensive blocks, while looking to create set-piece and counter-attacking chances to score from.
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Recent home stats:
- CD Tondela have drawn their last three home games in the Primeira Liga (W1, D5, L6).
- CD Tondela have conceded 16 goals in 12 home games in the Primeira Liga (1.33 per-game average).
Rio Ave (away)
- They will face a very different proposition on Monday, as Rio Ave play with high intensity wing-backs and look to overload the wide areas of the field.
- Sotiris Sylaidopoulos’ men are a proactive pressing side that are often at their best when they can dictate the pace of the game and break opponents down.
- Rio Ave have scored 12 goals in 12 away games in the Primeira Liga.
Head-to-Head
- The head-to-head record does not favour Tondela for this game, Rio Ave ran out 3-0 winners in the reverse Primeira Liga matchup five months ago, although the home team will be much happier with their form since then and should be able to make this an intriguing tactical battle.
- Tondela have won only one of their 12 home league games so far, drawing five and losing six.
- Rio Ave, meanwhile, have won two, drawn five and lost five in 12 away league games.
Key Players
Clayton has been Rio Ave ’s most dangerous attacking threat with ten goals in 19 Primeira Liga appearances, he leads the club’s scoring charts and can punish Tondela if they are caught out on counter-attacks.
Betting Insights
- Rio Ave have more goal potential and should at least get on the scoresheet, while Tondela have shown they can dig in to get the job done.
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Market tips:
- Both teams to score - yes at 1.8.
- Over 2.5 goals at 2.1.
Prediction
A draw, which can be backed at 3.39 , is the main prediction for this matchup.
