Preview: Rio Ave vs. Casa Pia - prediction, team news, lineups

Having picked up a 1-0 win in October's fixture, Os Gansos will set out to complete the double over the home side and secure their first away win since the turn of the year.

Match preview

Rio Ave were left spitting feathers last Saturday as they played out a 2-2 draw with Portimonense at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao after bottling their two-goal lead late in the game.

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Patrick Williams and Costinha scored either side of half time to put the visitors in a commanding lead heading into the final eight minutes, but Welinton Junior struck twice to force a share of the spoils.

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Prior to that, Luis Freire's men saw their two-game winning streak come to an end on April 2, when they were beaten 1-0 by Benfica courtesy of Goncalo Ramos's second-half effort.

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Having secured their return to the Primeira Liga last season, the Vilacondenses have picked up 11 wins and five draws from their 27 matches so far to collect 34 points and sit 10th in the league table.

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Rio Ave now return to the Estadio dos Arcos, where they are on a run of three wins in their four matches since mid-February while keeping two clean sheets and scoring five goals in that time.

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Elsewhere, Casa Pia were left with a bitter taste of "what could have been" last Sunday when they fell to a narrow 4-3 loss against Sporting Lisbon at the Estadio Pina Manique.

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Despite efforts from Rafael Martins, Yuki Soma and Felipe Cardoso, former Barcelona man Fransico Trincao almost single-handedly decided the game as he grabbed a hat-trick, including the Leoes' 85th-minute winner.

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Casa Pia have now lost all but one of their last four league outings — while scoring six goals and conceding eight — with March's 2-0 home win over league strugglers Maritimo being the exception.

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With 38 points from nine games, Filipe Martins's men are currently ninth in the league table, level on points with eighth-placed Vizela and six points adrift of the Conference League qualification places.

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While Casa Pia set out to arrest their slump and keep their European ambitions alive, they have struggled for results away from home, where they are without a league win in six consecutive matches, claiming one draw and losing five of their six games since the turn of the year.

Rio Ave Primeira Liga form:

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Casa Pia Primeira Liga form:

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Team News

Rio Ave will take to the pitch without Portuguese midfielder Joca, who continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury last September.

William was involved in Rio Ave's two goals against Portimonense and the former Famalicao man should form the back three alongside Aderllan Santos and Renato Pantalon.

Following his side's impressive attacking display against Sporting Lisbon, Freire could stick to the same front three of Soma, Martins and 23-year-old Diogo Pinto.

Derick Poloni, Afonso Taira, Neto and Portuguese midfielder Leonardo Lelo should all retain their roles at the centre of the park, while we expect an unchanged back three of Joao Nunes, Fernando Varela and Nermin Zolotic.

However, Brazilian striker Cardoso will play no part in Sunday's game due to a one-game suspension after picking up a red card against Sporting Lisbon.

Fellow countryman Leo Natel has been sidelined since suffering a season-ending ACL injury in November and the 26-year-old is also out of contention for Os Gansos.

Rio Ave possible starting lineup:

Jhonatan; Pantalon, Santos, William; Costinha, Samaris, Guga, Ronaldo; Graca, Pereira, Boateng

Casa Pia possible starting lineup:

Souza; Nunes, Varela, Zolotic; Lelo, Taira, Neto, Poloni; Soma, Martins, Teixeira

We say: Rio Ave 2-1 Casa Pia

While Casa Pia will be looking to find their feet, they have struggled for results on the road, where they are without a win in the league this year. Rio Ave have been impressive on home turf in recent weeks and we are backing them to return to winning ways in this one.

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