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Rio Ave vs Benfica Prediction & Betting tips
The weekend in Portugal ends with Rio Ave against Benfica, who can take a step on the way to the 36th international championship, especially when FC Porto makes points on Saturday against Maritimo.
Rio Ave :
Rio Ave is still doing the best to secure participation in the Europa League for the third time in a row. This season, the green whites in the preliminary round were eliminated by the Czech Slavia Prague. In the season, Rio Ave finished last in the group.
Rio Ave has everything to play for, making it a difficult horde for Benfica. Consider the excellent home balance (9 home matches undefeated) and one understands why Benfica will not be comfortable.
Trainer Luis Castro declared only to be busy with his own team, but he will not be able to help FC Porto by handing down Benfica points. Castro was a ten-year youth trainer and assistant at Porto before moving to Rio Ave in 2016 to stand on his own.
Castro puts out the defensive balance in Vila de Conde in northern Portugal. In the previous seven home matches, it was preferable to hold six times at least six times. It is still vague whether this outstanding series can be continued with Roderick. The central defender, who was training at Benfica, still had to skip some group sessions this week. Sunday is determined if he can play. The same goes for Serbian midfielder Radoslav Petrovic.
Probable setup Rio Ave
Cassio, Lionn, Marcelo, Roderick, Rafa, Tarantini, Petrovic, Krovinovic, Heldon, Guedes, Dias
Benfica :
As Aguías (The Eagles), three more matches have been removed from a new championship. However, these are not the easiest games. After the visit to Rio Ave, Benfica is still the number four Vitória de Guimaraes in his own Estádio da Luz to visit Boavista in the final play round.
Although Benfica has slammed FC Porto and Sporting Lisbon attacks over the last few weeks, it is no longer the oiled machine from the beginning of the season. In addition to the matches against Porto and Sporting, Estoril (in the cup) and Pacos de Ferreira was also played and some guns were won, including low-flying Estoril and Moreirense. This stroke period coincides with the mold tip of Kostas Mitroglou, who made only two goals in the last nine games.
His companion in the attack, Brazilian Jonas, is the most scoring foreigner in Benfica’s history but struggled over the past few months with his fitness. Meanwhile, he seems completely fit and paid back his coach’s confidence last week with two goals against Estoril.
Benfica has a complete cue selection to get in with the championship. Coach Rui Vitória changes his base team almost every week, but the defense and attack duo Jonas-Mitroglou seems to be stuck. Despite its lesser performance, Vitória holds confidence in Mitrogol. In the midfield there will be a choice between Cervi and Rafa Silva.
Probable setup Benfica
Ederson, Semedo, Luisão, Nilsson-Lindelöf, Grimaldo, Fejsa, Pizzi, Salvio, Cervi, Mitroglou, Jonas
Rio Ave vs Benfica head to head
21.12.16 PL Benfica Rio Ave 2 : 0
24.04.16 PL Rio Ave Benfica 0 : 1
20.12.15 PL Benfica Rio Ave 3 : 1
21.03.15 PL Rio Ave Benfica 2 : 1
31.10.14 PL Benfica Rio Ave 1 : 0