Rio Ave v Vitoria Guimaraes
Sunday 8th September 1500hrs
Football – Portugal– Primeira Liga
Pick Both teams to score
Bookmaker Boylesports
Odds: 20/23 (odds taken 16.00 GMT, Saturday 7 September)
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17/20 | 14/5 | 59/20 |
* (Betting Odds were taken from 22Bet on September 7, 2019 at 19.00)
The only top-flight game in the major European league to take place in this international break is in Portugal as Rio Ave, who have made a fast start, face a Vitoria Guimaraes side still searching for their first win.
Portuguese Primeira Liga Betting at Boylesports
Rio Ave Preview – Can Rio Ave followed up excellent win over Sporting last week and go joint second?
Three games into their league season and Rio Ave will be delighted with how things have started. Two wins so far has them nicely placed in seventh spot with their game in hand on Sunday to come. Win that and they will be level on points with Porto and Benfica, who are a point off top spot at this stage. Rio Ave are coming into this match on the back of an excellent win over the other of the big three. Last weekend’s win over Sporting in Lisbon was achieved in the most dramatic of circumstances having scored twice in the closing minutes to take all three peeoints. It would have been a sweet victory for Carlos Carvalhal who took charge of the club in the summer and used to be Sporting’s coach.
It’s been an excellent recovery since losing their opening game of the season when going down 1-0 away to Famalicao. They hit back in resounding fashion when thumping Aves in their next game, scoring five goals at home for the second game running having won 6-1 in the cup earlier in the campaign. They were one of the most entertaining sides last season and on the early evidence under their new coach, that looks like it will continue.
Vitoria Guimaraes Preview – Can the visitors bounce back from first defeat of the season and register first win?
Vitoria Guimaraes enjoyed a brilliant campaign last season with a fifth place finish and qualifying for the Europa League. They have show really good consistency over the past few years and continued that by reaching the group stages of the Europa League having started in the second qualifying round. It was a tense playoff tie which seen them narrowly get past FCSB of Romania, winning 1-0 on aggregate. What was remarkable in their qualification for the group stage is they never conceded a goal in their six games. The one slight drawback from their run in Europe has been the slow start to the domestic season.
Three games into the league season and they are still without a win. Obviously, so early in the campaign, there will be no rush to panic but coach Ivo Vieira will be keen to get that first win on the board as soon as possible. Like his counterpart on Sunday, Vieira joined his club in the summer. On a more positive outlook Guimaraes have drawn two of their first three games, earning a point against Boavista and Farmalicao. The new coach earned his first defeat when well beaten by Porto last weekend. Can they bounce back at the first time of asking?!
Key-Facts – Rio Ave v Vitoria Guimaraes
- Rio Ave produced one of the shock results of the Primeira Liga season so far when beating Sporting Lisbon away last time out
- Vitoria Guimaraes are still searching for their first win in the league this season having drawn two of their first three games
- The visitors have a great recent record in this fixture, winning five of the last six meetings in the league
Rio Ave v Vitoria Guimaraes Betting Advice
This clash provides a switch in focus for those who are not overly interested in international football. Both Rio Ave and Vitoria Guimaraes have started the season well in their own way. The hosts are looking for their third league win in four to go joint second, whilst their opponents have made the group stage of the Europa League which would have been an early season target. Now, for the visitors, they will be looking to replicate that form into domestic matters starting on Sunday.
I can see this game being another entertaining encounter involving Rio Ave. Three of their four domestic games this season have seen both teams scoring, and that’s also the case for two of their opponents three league games. Five of the last 11 meetings have also finished with both teams finding the net and that’s the way to go on Sunday.
