Rio Ave vs Sporting CP Prediction
Recent Form
Home Team
Estoril 0–2 Rio Ave
Rio Ave 0–2 Porto
Gil Vicente 1–0 Rio Ave
Rio Ave 2–2 Al Ahli
Casa Pia 1–1 Rio Ave
The most impressive thing on this Rio Ave home form data is their win over Estoril.
Losses to Porto and Gil Vicente shows weaknesses that can easily be exploited by Sporting.
Away Team
Sporting 3–1 Alverca
Sporting 3–2 Vitória Guimarães
Estrela 2–2 Sporting
Sporting 4–1 Nottingham Forest
Sporting 2–0 Monaco
Sporting are clearly in hot form. They won 4 of their last 5 matches with a single draw vs Estrela.
One interesting fact is that they have managed to score 2+ goals in all of their last 5 matches.
Head-to-Head
Rio Ave 1–4 Sporting
Sporting 4–0 Rio Ave
Rio Ave 1–2 Sporting
Sporting 2–0 Rio Ave
Rio Ave 0–3 Sporting
Rio Ave has not won against Sporting in their last five meetings.
Key Statistics
Sporting have scored 14 goals in their last five matches, while Rio Ave have scored only five.
Sporting have also won three consecutive competitive matches and are unbeaten in their opening three league fixtures.
Rio Ave's defensive numbers are the bigger issue. They have already conceded twice to Porto and once to Gil Vicente, while Sporting's attacking group has produced consistently high shot and chance numbers.
The visitors also have Luis Suárez in excellent early-season form.
Team News
Rio Ave have Brandon Aguilera, João Tomé, Ryan Guilherme and Cezary Miszta unavailable. Miszta's absence means Ennio van der Gouw is expected to remain in goal.
Tamble Monteiro is also being assessed after picking up a knock against Estoril.
Sporting are without João Simões and Nuno Santos, while Fotis Ioannidis remains a doubt with a lower-back issue.
Luis Suárez is therefore expected to lead the attack again after scoring his first league goal of the season last weekend.
Sporting's predicted XI also includes Geny Catamo, Rodrigo Zalazar and Nestory Irankunda behind him.
Prediction Analysis
This should be an easy win for Sporting. So, I am predicting away win.
It is not clear if Rio Ave can score, so instead of BTTS, the over 1.5 goals will be the best alternative.