Rio Ave vs Famalicao - prediction, team news, lineups

Rio Ave volition look to physique connected their caller upturn successful signifier erstwhile they invited Famalicao to the Estadio dos Arcos for Sunday's Primeira Liga encounter.

Both sides participate the contention level connected 7 points aft 8 league matches, with the Vila bash Conde hosts sitting 14th successful the Portuguese apical formation table, 1 spot beneath their visitors owed to an inferior extremity difference.

Match preview

Rio Ave endured a hard commencement to the play nether Sotiris Silaidopoulos, who was dismissed aft collecting conscionable 4 points from the opening 7 league fixtures, earlier erstwhile Arouca brag Vasco Seabra was appointed successful aboriginal October.

The managerial alteration has already yielded encouraging results, arsenic Seabra began his tenure with a melodramatic 3-2 league triumph implicit Nacional, contempt the hosts having a numerical vantage for overmuch of the 2nd fractional aft Joao Tome was sent disconnected successful the 55th minute.

After netting the victor successful that win, Jalen Blessa proved decisive again six days later, scoring successful stoppage clip to unafraid a 1-0 triumph implicit Louletano and nonstop Rio Ave into the 4th circular of the Taca de Portugal.

Despite those consecutive victories lifting the temper astir the Estadio dos Arcos, the Vila bash Conde outfit inactive person antiaircraft concerns to code aft conceding 17 goals successful their opening 8 league matches, with lone Nacional shipping much successful the division.

Rio Ave's location signifier besides remains a concern, having recorded conscionable 1 triumph successful their past 8 top-flight matches connected their ain turf, stretching backmost to the erstwhile campaign, though that solitary occurrence came successful their astir caller outing astatine the Estadio dos Arcos.

Famalicao, meanwhile, person slipped down the array aft finishing 5th past season, with their run becoming progressively unsettled pursuing Hugo Oliveira's departure for Strasbourg successful July and the consequent assignment of Carlos Carvalhal.

The experienced Portuguese manager was dismissed by communal consent connected October 19 pursuing a 1-0 decision to third-tier Paredes successful the Taca de Portugal, leaving the nine searching for different manager aft helium recorded conscionable 1 triumph successful 9 competitory matches.

That cupful disappointment followed a dense 4-1 location decision to Alverca successful the league, which ended Famalicao's four-match unbeaten tally successful the Primeira Liga, comprising 3 consecutive draws against Gil Vicente, Estrela Amadora and Sporting Lisbon earlier their triumph implicit Nacional.

That occurrence remains the Vila Nova side's lone triumph successful 4 top-flight distant matches this play (D2, L1), offering immoderate encouragement up of Sunday's travel to a Rio Ave outfit they person beaten conscionable erstwhile successful their past six visits to the Estadio dos Arcos, with the different 5 encounters ending successful draws.

Rio Ave Primeira Liga form:

Rio Ave signifier (all competitions):

Famalicao Primeira Liga form:

Famalicao signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Rio Ave are expected to stay without Cezary Miszta, who is sidelined with a backmost injury, portion Brandon Aguilera continues his betterment from a cruciate ligament problem.

Blesa has scored successful 3 of his past 4 appearances crossed each competitions and is apt to pb the enactment again, having already registered 3 league goals this season.

Tome is expected to instrumentality to contention aft serving his one-match suspension during the Taca de Portugal triumph implicit Louletano.

Famalicao's managerial concern remains a cardinal talking constituent up of Sunday's encounter, with nary successor to Carvalhal confirmed and adjunct manager Ricardo Silva expected to instrumentality charge.

Twenty-year-old defender Matheus Mattara was forced disconnected with an wounded during the league decision to Alverca and remains a uncertainty aft missing the consequent cupful nonaccomplishment to Paredes.

Georgios Koutsias has failed to people successful his past 2 appearances, but the guardant remains Famalicao's starring league scorer with 5 goals and is expected to spearhead their attack.

Rio Ave imaginable starting lineup:

Hugo; Tome, Ntoi, Mancha, Vrousai; Liavas, Patricio; Clemmensen, Sellouki, Bezerra; Blesa

Famalicao imaginable starting lineup:

Ceravic; Pinheiro, Rofino, Van Breemen, Bondo; Pena, Szucs; Beeney, De Amorim, Sorriso; Koutsias

We say: Rio Ave 1-1 Famalicao

Rio Ave person shown signs of betterment nether Seabra, but their antiaircraft frailties could forestall them from capitalising afloat connected Famalicao's uncertain managerial situation.

The visitors person struggled for consistency and are facing different play of transition, though their beardown grounds astatine the Estadio dos Arcos and Koutsias's goal-scoring signifier suggest they person capable prime to unafraid a point.
 

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