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

After four weeks of the season, just three points separate two of the lowest scorers in the Portuguese top flight.

Match preview

Rio Ave started the season in positive fashion, but they have underwhelmed since.

An opening day win initially looked very promising, but it came against a Chaves side who have now lost all of their opening four games.

There were certainly bigger challenges to come, and Rio Ave have taken just one point since.

A trip to Estoril before welcoming Porto to Vila do Conde both resulted in defeats for Luis Freire's men.

A 1-1 draw against Casa Pia just before the international break was underwhelming, uneventful and uninspiring, so a positive performance is paramount here.

Trips to Sporting Lisbon and Braga await in their next two on the road, so points must be won on home soil or Rio Ave will soon slip into the bottom three.

An omen which will not bring much confidence is that they have failed to beat Famalicao in six encounters since their Northern rivals were promoted.

Famalicao will hope to continue that strong record in this fixture to aid their charge for a fifth consecutive top-half finish since promotion.

For a side which spent 25 years outside the top flight, their consistency to battle for European places has been remarkable.

They are yet to make that next step and finish in the top five or six, with Rio Ave edging them out on the final day in the 2019-20 season, but with the league so open outside of the big three and Braga, they will hope this is the year.

A pragmatic approach has been working for manager Joao Pedro Sousa so far this season, as Famalicao have conceded the fewest goals in the league - two.

Starting the season with a stunning win away to a Braga side who may have had one eye on their Champions League qualifiers has set the tone.

The pragmatism played its part in grinding out a 0-0 draw against Moreirense despite playing 45 minutes with 10 men, and Famalicao also got the better of Farense before the break.

Sporting remain the only side to have beaten them so far, and even that was a narrow 1-0 defeat for Sousa's men.

Starting the weekend in sixth, Famalicao could move into second at least with a win, given they play earlier than most of the league.

Rio Ave Primeira Liga form:

Rio Ave form (all competitions):

W

L

W

L

L

D

Famalicao Primeira Liga form:

Famalicao form (all competitions):

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Team News

Goalkeeper Jhonatan is the only absentee for Rio Ave, as he misses out with a thigh injury.

The Rio Ave squad remains slightly thin after not signing any players over the course of the summer.

That could become an issue if more injuries and suspensions pile up, and Renato Pantalon is just one game away from ban already after picking up a booking in all four games so far this season.

An ACL injury will keep Famalicao's Theo Fonseca out for the foreseeable future.

Tom Lacoux came in to make his full debut for the club against Farense last time and the club will hope he can be the man to replace Ivan Jaime, who left to join Porto late in the window.

Chiquinho is another new arrival and could make his debut after he was bizarrely recalled by Wolverhampton Wanderers after just a month on loan at Stoke City and instantly sent to Famalicao.

Rio Ave possible starting lineup:

Magrao; Pantalon, Aderllan Santos, Josue Sa; Costinha, Oudrhiri, Joao Graca, Fabio Ronaldo; Joca, Boateng, Hernani

Famalicao possible starting lineup:

Luiz Junior; Aguirregabiria, Riccieli, De Haas, Moura; Youssouf, Lacoux, Henrique Araujo; Aranda, Puma, Chiquinho

We say: Rio Ave 0-0 Famalicao

These two sides have scored just seven goals between them in their eight matches combined this season, so expecting a classic may be a little far-fetched.

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