Sporting vs Rio Ave prediction, preview, team news and more
Sporting Rio Ave will be invited to the Estadio Jose Alvalade for the first home game of the new Primeira Liga season on Saturday.
The hosts dropped points in their opener in a six-goal thriller against Braga, which forced part of the defeat thanks to Abel Ruiz’s 88th-minute equalizer.
Ave, meanwhile, are back in the Portuguese top flight after a year’s absence, winning LigaPro last season. On Saturday they started the new league at home with a narrow 1-0 home defeat against Vizela.
Sporting vs. Rio Ave head-to-head
Sporting have played 60 times with Rio Ave across all competitions. As expected, they were the better team in this game and had a 37-8 winning margin while 15 games ended in a draw.
Leoes are without a win in their last two home games against Ave, with the sides’ last meeting on Saturday ending in a 1-1 draw. When the two teams last met in the league in 2021, they recorded a 2-0 away win.
Athletic form guide (all competitions): DDLLW.
Rio Ave Form Guide (all competitions): LWLDW
Sporting vs Rio Ave team news
Athletic
Daniel Braganca is the only absentee as he recently underwent knee surgery and will be on the sidelines for an extended period of time.
Hurt: Daniel Braganca.
suspended: None.
Doubtful: None.
Not available: None.
Rio Ave
Visitors will travel to Lisbon with an impeccable health certificate.
Hurt: None.
suspended: None.
Doubtful: None.
Not available: None.
Sporting vs. Rio Ave Predicted XIs
Athletic CP (3-4-2-1): Antonio Adan (GC); Goncalo Inácio, Sebastian Coates, Matheus Reis; Pedro Porro, Matheus Nunes, Nuno Santos, Hidemasa Morita; Francisco Trincao, Pedro Goncalves; Paulinho.
Rio Avenue (3-4-3): Jonathan (GK); Pedro Amaral, Aderllán Santos, Miguel Nobrega; Costinha, Vitor Gomes, Guga, Paulo Vitor; Joca, Abdul Aziz Yakubu, Andre Pereira.
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Sporting vs Rio Ave Prediction
Sporting lost just two games at home in the Primeira Liga last season and are favorites in one league game away to Jose Alvalade.
Ave, meanwhile, has only just returned to the top flight and may need some time to get going. Like the other two promoted teams, they also failed to open their account in their first game of the campaign.
This game should end in a clear win for the Lisbon giants.
Forecast: Sporting 2-0 Rio Ave.
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