Rio Ave v Santa Clara Betting Tips: 2 AH+0.75, 2019-02-15

International Football Tips

RIO AVE v SANTA CLARA
Primeira Liga
Friday 15th February 2019
Kickoff: 2030hrs
Pick: Santa Clara AH+0.75
Bookmaker: Bet Victor
Odds: 1.83 (odds taken at 11:57 GMT, 14 Feb 2019)

Friday night brings us further footballing action from around the European domestic leagues, starting with the Portuguese top flight and a clash between Rio Ave and Santa Clara as the betting tips continue at the Estádio do Rio Ave Futebol Clube.

Primeira Liga Betting at Bet Victor

Rio Ave Prediction

Rio Ave currently occupy 8th place on the Primeira Liga table but will have to make do with finishing as high as they can without the prospect of any European football next season as they trail 4th placed Sporting CP by a massive 14 point margin ahead of this weekend’s action.

Nonetheless, Rio Ave bring a solid five match run without defeat into Friday night’s encounter with Santa Clara which includes wins away at Maritimo and Portimonense as well as draws at home with Vitoria Setubal, Feirense and Tondela in 1-1, 0-0 and 2-2 stalemates.

These recent results are a significant improvement upon Rio Ave’s previous results which saw the hosts lose six of their previous seven matches before the hosts steadied the ship. However, form at home has been a concern in recent weeks as Rio Ave have now gone seven league matches without a win in the Primeira Liga.

This ordinary set of results include defeats to Sporting CP and Moreirense, along with five draws amidst an overall home record of 4-5-2 18/16.

 

Key-Facts – Rio Ave v Santa Clara

  • Rio Ave are without a home win from their last 7 matches
  • Rio Ave have drawn 5 of their last 7 matches at home
  • Santa Clara have won more away matches than any side in the bottom half

 

Santa Clara Prediction

Santa Clara sit two league positions and four points below their hosts ahead of this Friday night encounter and although the visitors have a four point buffer ahead of the bottom three in the Primeira Liga, recent results have been poor and they’re not out of the woods yet.

Santa Clara have lost five of their last seven league matches overall with defeats to Tondela, Benfica, Maritimo, Sporting Braga and Boavista, and have just the one win to show for their troubles in recent weeks, that being a 2-1 home win over Portimonense.

However, there is a positive aspect to Santa Clara and that’s been their record away from home which stands at 4-2-4 12/10, as the visitors have collected the most number of away wins out of all the teams situated in the bottom half of the division to date this season.

A trip to an out of sorts Rio Ave could be just the match for Santa Clara to return to a more even keel and my pick depends on them just not to lose as backing them with the handicap looks a good value play here.

Betting Tips Verdict

Rio Ave have struggled for wins at home in recent times while Santa Clara are not up against a top four side and could get something from this trip.