Rio Ave

vs

FC Porto

Preview

Rio Ave

• Rio Ave are winless in their last five home games, D3, L2.
• Sotiris Sylaidopoulos has Rio Ave playing a pragmatic, flexible style of soccer that can easily change from a compact 4-2-3-1 to a more open, attacking system depending on the opponent.
• Their recent form of W1, D3, L1 across their last five games suggests that they are happy to try and get something from this clash.

Porto

• Porto's form is much sharper than their hosts', with seven wins, one draw and two defeats across their last 10 games.
• Francesco Farioli's men have been playing at a high-tempo and they like to play through the half-spaces and press with ferocity.
• Recent stats:
  • Porto have scored three goals in their last three away games across all competitions.
  • Porto are on a three-game winning streak and seem to be hitting their stride.

Head-to-Head

• The head-to-head in this fixture is finely poised, D2, W3, L0 to Porto,
• Porto claiming the win on the last occasion in a tight 1-0 result five months ago.

Key Players

• But Andre Silva is the killer touch.
• One goal in one appearance in the Primeira Liga gives Porto the advantage up top and should be enough to see them to a victory, but this game looks like it could be tight.

Betting Insights

• They will come into this fixture in a decent enough position, but Porto are the clear favorites at 1.33, with Rio Ave 8.2 and the draw at 5.0.
• The market on Both Teams to Score is almost a coin flip, with Yes 1.91 and No 1.8.

Prediction

• Porto should have too much firepower and control for this game to be anything but a victory for the away side, but Rio Ave are a stubborn team and the odds are a bit low for that to happen.
• I think Porto get the win, but Rio Ave will be hard to break down.