Rio Ave and Santa Clara are separated by five places in the Primeira Liga table heading into Friday's gameweek 30 clash at Estadio dos Arcos.
The home side snapped a four-match losing run in the Liga last time out at Moreirense and aim to claim back-to-back league victories against an away side on a two-match losing streak.
Match preview
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While there was a mathematical chance of Rio Ave ending up in the relegation playoff spot, defeating Moreirense 2-0 on Sunday eased those fears, with the 11th-placed Vilacondenses now nine points clear of AVS.
Considering there are five games left, Petit's team are expected to be safe in the top flight for another season, barring an incredible nine-point swing.
With European qualification via the top flight also a long shot for the Rioavistas, finishing as high as possible is the home side's only league aim for the remainder of the season, as well as overturning a 2-0 deficit against Sporting Lisbon in the semi-final of the domestic cup.
The latter will be a priority for Petit's team, as winning the Taca de Portugal guarantees a Europa League spot for the victors.
However, Santa Clara will hope that Friday's hosts fail in that ambition to prevent a possible final between Sporting and Benfica, which could mean the Europa League spot is handed to the fifth-placed side.
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While they sit 13 points behind fourth-placed Porto, occupying the Conference League qualifying spot, the Europa League place meant for the domestic cup winners would be awarded to the fifth-placed club if the Taca de Portugal champions finish in the top three.
With both title contenders Sporting and Benfica likely finalists, Santa Clara could have much at stake in the final weeks if Rio Ave are unsuccessful in their comeback attempt against the Lisbon giants.
With Vasco Matos's men currently two points adrift of Vitoria Guimaraes in fifth, the concluding rounds could be thrilling in the battle for a Europa League berth.
However, the Ponta Delgada outfit must quickly recover from losing consecutive Liga games against Vitoria (2-0) and Sporting (1-0) in Friday's visit to Rio Ave.
Having not suffered three defeats in a row this season, the high-flying promoted side aim to do the double over their opponents to possibly leapfrog Vitoria, who host title-chasing Benfica on Saturday.
With Santa Clara playing a day earlier, the sixth-placed side seek to secure maximum points to leapfrog the team directly above them in the table, putting pressure on the Guimaraes-based outfit against Benfica.
Team News
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Jonathan Panzo misses out due to suspension, while Francisco Petrasso and Kiko Bondoso are absent due to injury.
Of Clayton's 13 top-flight goals, six have been game-opening efforts and four have been match-clinching, and the Rio Ave forward aims to add to his decisive contributions on Friday.
Santa Clara's Luis Rocha will miss out after receiving a red card against Sporting in the last match, while Wendel and Pedro Pacheco are sidelined due to injury.
Although Vinicius Lopes has scored five fewer than Clayton, the Azorean frontman has netted four match-winning strikes, including one in the reverse fixture, highlighting his influence for the European hopefuls.
With only four players — Viktor Gyokeres (eight), Samu Aghehowa (six), Vangelis Pavlidis (six) and Kerem Akturkoglu (five) — netting more game-winning efforts than Rio Ave's Clayton and Santa Clara's Lopes, both clubs will look to their top scorers to deliver on Friday.
Rio Ave possible starting lineup:
Miszta; Vrousai, Ntoi, Kostoulas, Richards; Aguilera, Graca, Tiknaz; Luiz, Clayton, Morais
Santa Clara possible starting lineup:
Batista; Lima, Venancio, Araujo; Soares, Ferreira, Firmino, Pereira; Lopes, Silva, Ricardinho
We say: Rio Ave 0-1 Santa Clara
Having gone unbeaten on home soil until the new year, Rio Ave have now lost 50% of their six matches in front of their fans since the start of 2025.
Although Santa Clara have secured two victories in six in 2025, the hosts' possible focus on next week's domestic cup semi-final second leg, combined with the away side's ambition to leapfrog Vitoria Guimaraes, could see Matos's side clinch a narrow victory in Vila do Conde.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
