Rio Ave will be looking to secure back-to-back Primeira Liga away wins for the first time this season when they visit the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques to take on Vitoria de Guimaraes on Sunday.
Second-half goals from Oscar Rivas and Gustavo Silva saw Os Vimaranenses fight back from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw when the sides met in December's reverse fixture and we anticipate another thrilling contest this weekend.
Match preview
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Vitoria de Guimaraes failed to snap their 20-game winless run against Benfica as they suffered a 3-0 defeat when the two sides squared off at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques last Saturday.
The home side went into the game looking to end their 12-year hoodoo against Benfica but they found themselves trailing inside just 21 minutes after Vangelis Pavlidis finished off a well-worked team goal, before Alvaro Carreras doubled the lead and Pavlidis netted his second of the game to cap of a solid individual display.
Prior to that, Vitoria de Guimaraes were unbeaten in each of their previous 10 Primeira Liga games — picking up six wins and four draws — a run stretching back to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Estoril Praia on January 26.
While their quest for back-to-back European qualification is all but over, they sit 12 points off fourth-placed Porto heading into the final four matches, and head coach Luis Freire will be pleased with his side's performance this season.
Vitoria de Guimaraes have won 12 of their 30 Primeira Liga matches so far while losing six and claiming 12 draws to collect 48 points and sit fifth in the league standings, one point above sixth-placed Santa Clara.
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On the other hand, Rio Ave were dumped out of the Taca de Portugal last time out as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of high-flying Sporting Lisbon in the second leg of their semi-final clash at the Estadio dos Arcos.
Having secured a 2-0 victory in the reverse leg at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on April 3, Sporting Lisbon stormed into a commanding four-goal aggregate lead after Goncalo Inacio and Viktor Gyokeres hit the target to effectively put the tie to bed before Andre Luiz pulled one back with a 66th-minute strike.
This was in keeping with their struggles in the Primeira Liga, where Rio Ave have failed to win five of their most recent six matches — losing four and claiming one draw — with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Moreirense on April 13 being the exception.
Petit's men have picked up 33 points from their 30 league matches so far to sit 11th in the standings, level on points with 12th-placed Arouca and nine points above the relegation playoff spot heading into the final four games.
While victory on Sunday mathematically secures Rio Ave's top-flight status for another season, they face the challenge of an opposing side who are unbeaten in 11 of their last 12 Primeira Liga home games since the third week of September.
Team News
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Vitoria de Guimaraes will have to cope without the services of veteran defender Mikel Villanueva, who is suspended after crossing the yellow card threshold against Benfica last time out.
In his absence, Spanish defender Rivas will push for his 11th league start of the campaign, teaming up with Miguel Maga, Filipe Relvas and Joao Mendes in the back four.
On the injury front, 32-year-old Bruno Gaspar will play no part in this weekend's clash after sustaining a thigh injury against Benfica last time.
As for Rio Ave, Petit will be unable to name Argentine defender Francisco Petrasso, who has been sidelined since coming off with a muscle injury against Porto on April 3.
Fellow defender Omar Richards has missed the last three games through injury while experienced forward Kiko Bondoso has been ruled out since coming off injured versus Casa Pia on March 29.
Vitoria de Guimaraes possible starting lineup:
Varela; Maga, Rivas, Relvas, Mendes; T Silva, Handel; Arcanjo, Mendes, G Silva; Oliveira
Rio Ave possible starting lineup:
Miszta; Tome, Ntoi, Kostoulas, Abbey; Novais, Tiknaz; Graca, Aguilera, Luiz; Clayton
We say: Vitoria de Guimaraes 2-0 Rio Ave
Still licking their wounds from their Taca de Portugal exit, Rio Ave will head into the weekend looking to find their feet and secure their safety.
However, Vitoria de Guimaraes have been rock-solid at home this season and we are backing them to bounce back from their defeat against Benfica with all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
