Preview: Gil Vicente vs. Rio Ave - prediction, team news, lineups

The Vilacondenses head into the weekend as the only top-flight side without an away win across all competitions this season and will be looking to end this poor run.

Match preview

Gil Vicente failed to move into the top half of the Primeira Liga standings as they suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Famalicao when the sides squared off Saturday.

In a one-sided affair at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao, Gustavo Sa, Fransico Moura and Chiquinho all found the back of the net to put the Vila Nova in a commanding lead before Maxime Dominguez pulled on back in the 67th minute.

Gil Vicente have now gone three games on the trot without a win in the Primeira Liga, suffering defeats to Chaves and Famalicao on either side of a thrilling 3-3 draw with Braga on October 28.

With 10 points from 10 matches, Vitor Campelos's men are currently 12th in the league standings, level on points with 13th-placed Casa Pia but could move level with ninth-placed Farense with all three points this weekend.

The Gilistas now return home where they are unbeaten in three consecutive matches, claiming seven points from the last nine available, and have picked up five wins and one draw in their last seven matches since the start of May.

Rio Ave, on the other hand, picked up just their second Primeira Liga win of the season on Monday when they edged out Boavista 2-0 at the Estadio dos Arcos.

Despite seeing less than 40% of the ball possession and being on the back foot for most of the game, the hosts made their chances count as Fabio Ronaldo and Emmanuel Boateng scored in either half to hand Os Axadrezados their third defeat of the season.

Prior to that, Rio Ave had failed to win their last nine games across all competitions and were on a five-match losing streak, including a 2-1 loss against Segunda Liga side Torreense in the Taca de Portugal on October 22.

Luis Freire's men have now picked up two wins in their 10 Primeira Liga matches this season while losing six and claiming two draws to collect eight points and sit 15th in the table, one point above the bottom three.

While Rio Ave will look to build on Monday's victory, they have struggled for results on the road, where they are without a win in 10 straight competitive matches, losing seven and claiming three draws since March's 2-0 victory over Santa Clara.

Next up for the Vilacondenses is a trip to the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos, where they have failed to win any of trust last four visits, losing twice and claiming two draws since beating Gil Vicente 2-1 in March 2014.

Gil Vicente Primeira Liga form:

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Gil Vicente form (all competitions):

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Rio Ave Primeira Liga form:

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Rio Ave form (all competitions):

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Team News

Despite Gil Vicente's underwhelming start to the season, summer signing Dominguez has been a standout performer and the former Rakow Czestochowa man, who boasts eight goal involvements in his 10 league games, will be one to look out for.

On the injury front, the Gilistas will once again have to cope without veteran goalkeeper Stanislav Kritsyuk, who has been sidelined since picking up an injury back in February.

He is joined on the club's injury table by forward Ali Alipour, who has been out of action since picking up an injury in February's game against Famalicao.

Meanwhile, Rio Ave remain without 27-year-old midfielder Joca, who continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury in September's game against Famalicao.

Off the back of a fine all-round team performance against Boavista, Freire could name an unchanged XI this weekend, meaning we could see a front three of Boateng, Andre Pereira and Bruno Ventura, with Josue Sa, Aderllan Santos and Miguel Nobrega forming the three-man defence line.

Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:

Oliveira; Ze Carlos, Pereira, Fernandes, Buta; Neto, Wilson; Fujimoto, Dominguez, Souza; Baturina

Rio Ave possible starting lineup:

Jhonatan; Sa, Santos, Nobrega, Costinha; Guga, Oudrhiri, Ronaldo; Boateng, Pereira, Ventura

We say: Gil Vicente 2-1 Rio Ave

Buoyed by Monday's victory over Boavista, Rio Ave will head into the weekend with renewed belief they look to put together a fine run of form. While Gil Vicente have struggled for consistency this season, their form at home this season gives them a slight upper hand and we fancy them claiming a narrow victory this weekend.

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