Rio Ave

vs

Casa Pia Atletico

Preview

Rio Ave

• Rio Ave and Casa Pia Atletico will be hoping to secure a vital three points when they face off in the Primeira Liga on Sunday, but both have experienced mixed form in recent weeks and both can be guilty of stumbling over the line.
• The hosts are 11th in Portugal’s top-flight with 17 points from 16 games, while Casa Pia are 15th in the table after picking up 14 points from the same number of games.
• They’ve won one, tied three and lost three of their seven home games in the Primeira Liga, picking up just 1 point from the last six on offer and shipping 12 goals in that time.

Casa Pia Atletico

• Casa Pia’s away form has been slightly better, with a 2-1 win at CD Tondela followed by a narrow defeat.
• They have won three, lost four and drawn one of their eight away games in the Primeira Liga so far this season.

Head-to-Head

Key Players

• Sotiris Sylaidopoulos has done a great job in the Vilacondense club, building his squad and instilling a tactical discipline that is clearly evident in the way his players press, stay compact and hit on the counter attack.
• Rio Ave have a very clear identity and a game plan, which they adhere to on and off the ball and can switch between a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 system with the same personnel.
• Casa Pia have a similar identity since Goncalo Brandao took over.
• They sit compact in defensive blocks and have a clear outlet down the wings, with Jeremy Livolant top-scoring with three in 16 Primeira Liga appearances this season.
• But Clayton is the talisman for Rio Ave, netting ten goals in 15 appearances in the league and scoring three of his side’s last four.

Betting Insights

• Rio Ave have an edge in the head-to-head record, which is why the bookies have them as slight favorites at 2.4, with Casa Pia Atletico 3.17 and the draw 3.35.
• Under 2.5 goals is a pretty solid bet at 1.69 as this could be a tense, cagey game with neither side giving much away.

Prediction