Rio Ave will look to put an end to their recent slide when they welcome Estrela Amadora to the Estadio dos Arcos, with both sides seeking to edge closer to safety as the Primeira Liga season nears its conclusion.
Just three games remain, and while the hosts are on the brink of mathematical survival, the Tricolours are still treading carefully, though last weekend's result gave them a timely lift in their relegation fight.
Match preview
© Imago
Last weekend brought a painful reminder of their inconsistencies for Rio Ave, who slumped to a humbling 3-0 defeat at Vitoria de Guimaraes, a performance that undid the momentum gained from the previous two games.
That result marked a second consecutive loss and exposed familiar frailties, coming after a short-lived upturn that saw the Vilacondenses beat Moreirense and hold Santa Clara to a draw, briefly halting a five-game losing streak in the league.
Although Petit's men are no longer teetering on the edge, AVS's heavy 6-0 defeat to Benfica has all but assured Rio Ave of their place in next season's top flight, with only a mathematical confirmation left to secure.
Nonetheless, with just 33 goals scored this term, Rioavistas's struggles in front of goal have been glaring, though it is their defensive record that remains the more pressing concern, having shipped 52 – the worst among teams not involved in the relegation playoff scrap.
Petit has been vocal about aiming to surpass last season's 37-point tally, and while that now appears within reach, his side must find a response if they are to finish the campaign on a more positive note.
Rio Ave currently sit 13th on 33 points, nine above the playoff zone, and just a draw here would be enough to remove any remaining doubt, though three points would go a long way in helping them reach their manager's stated objective.
However, the Vilacondenses come into this clash with a poor recent record against Estrela, failing to record victory in any of the last three meetings between the sides, including a narrow 1-0 loss in the reverse fixture played last December.
The Arcos has not been a fortress either in recent weeks, with Rio Ave now winless in three home games in the league – a run that includes two defeats, which is already more than they suffered in the previous 12 outings on their own patch.
© Imago
Meanwhile, Estrela produced one of their most assured performances of the season last weekend, stunning Porto with a 2-0 victory that not only halted a two-game losing streak.
The result marked only their second win in six games, but both of those triumphs came with clean sheets, further highlighting the fine margins the Tricolours operate within, as they failed to score at all in the four games they lost in that stretch.
As a result, Estrela are five points clear of the relegation playoff spot after collecting 29 points from eight victories, nine draws and 14 defeats.
Jose Faria's men have found goals hard to come by all season, registering just 24 – the fewest among sides currently sitting above the drop zone.
Their away form, though, has shown recent signs of life, as Estrela have taken maximum points from two of their last five league outings on the road, a significant step up from the previous 10 in which they failed to record any win.
Victory here would represent another major leap towards safety while also completing their first double in this fixture.
Team News
© Imago
Omar Richards and Francisco Petrasso are nearing full fitness and could bolster the hosts' defensive structure, while Kiko Bondoso is also in contention to return on Sunday, though he is only expected to feature from the bench.
Petit may look to shake things up in midfield, with Martim Neto and Brandon Aguilera both pushing for starting roles as potential fresh legs in the engine room.
As for the visitors, Faria is likely to stick with the 4-3-3 setup that yielded a convincing win over Porto last weekend, with Kikas set to lead the line once more following his goal in that contest.
Renato Pantalon is expected to retain his place ahead of Ferro at the heart of defence, continuing his partnership with Issiar Drame.
Nilton Varela remains unavailable through injury, while Fabio Ronaldo will be assessed closer to kickoff to determine his readiness for involvement.
Rio Ave possible starting lineup:
Miszta; Vrousai, Panzo, Ntoi, Tome; Tiknaz, Neto, Aguilera; Morais, Clayton, Luiz
Estrela Amadora possible starting lineup:
Costa; Montoia, Drame, Pantalon, Travassos; Oudrhiri, Ruiz, Moreira; Bucca, Kikas, Cabral
We say: Rio Ave 1-1 Estrela Amadora
Rio Ave have stumbled on home soil in recent weeks, whereas Estrela da Amadora have shown improved resilience on their travels despite a narrow defeat last time out, and with two of their three previous Primeira Liga meetings ending all square, the signs point towards a balanced encounter once again.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
