RIO AVE v DESPORTIVO AVES
Friday 23rd February 2018 – Kickoff: 2030hrs
Football – Portugal – Primeira Liga Betting Tips
Rio Ave will be eager to return to their Estádio do Rio Ave Futebol Clube in Vila do Conde for Friday night’s tussle with Desportivo Aves, following some difficult fixtures recently, not least, having to travel to the top two teams, Benfica and Porto in recent weeks.
Three away matches in their last four resulted in heavy defeats for Rio Ave as they were thrashed at Portimonense 4-1, Benfica 5-1 and Porto 5-0, but tonight’s hosts will take heart from the fact that they’ve won their last four matches in the Primeira Liga on the trot at home, with wins over Moreirense, Pacos de Ferreira, Boavista and Maritimo.
Rio Ave possess a reasonable looking home record of 7-1-3 18/9 and they have the joint 5th best defensive record on home turf in the Portuguese top flight, achieving four clean sheets to date. Look out for attacking midfielder Novais and forward Guedes (8 goals apiece).
Desportivo Aves currently occupy 13th place on the Primeira Liga ladder and indeed, are only one point above the relegation zone ahead of this tricky match away at Rio Ave. Nevertheless, the visitors will also be in reasonably confident mood that they can come away with something in tonight’s clash having registered wins over Boavista and Belenenses, along with a point against Maritimo.
However, the recent 5-2 win at 12th placed Belenenses ended a run of four matches without a win on their travels, and although they’ve produced glimpses of putting a run together on the road, they always seem to fall short.
An away record of 3-3-5 15/18 displays their inconsistencies, along with the fact that they’ve conceded 2 goals or more in 7 of their 11 away matches to date.
Pick: Rio Ave AH-0.25 @ 1.77 Bet Victor
