Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

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

sportsmole.co.uk, 28 January 2023, 00:03
Two sides level on points in the Primeira Liga table will meet on Sunday when Vizela face Rio Ave at the Estadio Do Vizela.

The hosts will be aiming to claim a third consecutive home victory, while Rio Ave are looking to end a four-game winless run.

Match preview

After finishing four points above the bottom three last season, Vizela have made progress on the pitch this term, picking up 21 points from their 17 matches to leave them in ninth position ahead of the weekend's round of fixtures.

They only managed to record seven league victories in the entirety of their 2021-22 campaign, but at the halfway mark of the current season, they already have six wins to their name.

In their most recent outing, Vizela were unfortunate to lose 2-1 away to Sporting Lisbon after Alex Mendez cancelled out Pedro Goncalves's equaliser, but Pedro Porro scored from the spot in the fifth minute of stoppage time to condemn Vizela to a third straight away defeat in all competitions.

They will be looking forward to returning to home surroundings this weekend, after winning their last two home matches by a 3-0 scoreline.

Tulipa's side will now be aiming to secure a third straight home win, and they also have the chance to complete a league double over Rio Ave following a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture earlier this season.

After winning promotion back to the topflight at the first time of asking, Rio Ave's first priority would have been to avoid a relegation battle and retain their place in the Primeira Liga.

At the halfway point of the season, the signs are positive for Rio Ave, who are seven points clear of the bottom three, and six points adrift of the top five.

Sunday's visitors currently sit one place behind Vizela on goal difference, but if they are to leapfrog their opponents then they will need to end a four-game winless run, which has been made up of three draws and one defeat.

Finding the net has proven to be a difficult task in recent weeks for Rio Ave, who have failed to score in their last three games, although they have been defensively resilient, keeping four clean sheets in their previous six league matches.

Rio Ave have drawn more away games (5) than any other side in the Primeira Liga, and their struggles to convert draws into victories on their travels has restricted them to just one away win in the league this season.

Vizela Primeira Liga form:

L

W

W

L

W

L

Vizela form (all competitions):

D

L

W

L

W

L

Rio Ave Primeira Liga form:

W

W

D

D

L

D

Rio Ave form (all competitions):

L

W

D

D

L

D

Team News

After utilising three central defenders and two wing-backs for the defeat to Sporting, Vizela are expected to revert to a back four on Sunday, with Bruno Wilson and Anderson set to operate in the centre of defence.

An injury issue prevented Claudemir from featuring last weekend, but he is expected to be fit enough to feature in the starting lineup against Rio Ave.

Milutin Osmajic will continue to lead the line for Vizela, and he will be looking to add to the four goals he has scored this season.

As for the visitors, they are still unable to call upon the services of Joca, who has been sidelined since September with a knee injury.

Luis Freire could make a number of changes to his side, with Andreas Samaris, Paulo Vitor, Miguel Baeza and Emmanuel Boateng all in contention for starting berths.

Having top scored for Rio Ave in the league this season with six goals, Abdul-Aziz Yakubu will retain his place in the forward line.

Vizela possible starting lineup:

Buntic; Juliao, Wilson, Anderson, Igor; Claudemir, Guzzo; Moreira, Samu, Bondoso; Osmajic

Rio Ave possible starting lineup:

Jhonatan; Sa, Santos, William; Costinha, Samaris, Guga, Vitor; Baeza, Boateng, Yakubu

We say: Vizela 1-1 Rio Ave

Previews by email

Top News

22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has reportedly not yet made a full recovery from the knock he suffered prior to the international break. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Xabi Alonso will hope that his Bayer Leverkusen side can return to winning ways when they welcome strugglers Heidenheim to BayArena in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Wayne Rooney gives Romeo Montague a run for his money with wife Coleen revealing he writes her love poetry. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Six places separate Wolfsburg and Union Berlin in the Bundesliga table ahead of Saturday's gameweek 11 match at the Volkswagen Arena. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Borussia Dortmund have already fallen behind in the title race and will at least aim to stay within touching distance of the Champions League qualifications spots when they welcome Freiburg to Signal Iduna Park on Saturday in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A crunch clash at the bottom sees Heracles and RKC Waalwijk go head to head at the Asito Stadium on Saturday evening in gameweek 13 of the Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Stuttgart sit a disappointing 11th in the Bundesliga table before welcoming cellar-dwelling VfL Bochum in Saturday's gameweek 11 action at the MHPArena. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford boss Thomas Frank has confirmed that Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa will both be available for Saturday's Premier League away meeting with Everton. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica and Estrela Amadora return to action on Saturday when they go head to head at the Estadio da Luz in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal. 21 November 2024 talksport.com West Ham have sounded out former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic as a potential replacement for Julen Lopetegui, talkSPORT understands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to move back into the top six of the League One table, Huddersfield Town will welcome Charlton Athletic to the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com talkSPORT's Ally McCoist has opened up about living with Dupuytren's contracture, an incurable hereditary condition that affects the hands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Luton Town will welcome Hull City to Kenilworth Road on Saturday for a crucial game at the bottom end of the Championship table. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Martin Odegaard is everything for Arsenal - he's at the heartbeat of everything positive they do. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to go top of the Championship table with a fifth straight victory, Sheffield United will travel to take on Coventry City on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk RB Leipzig will aim to prevent the five-point gap to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich from extending by claiming all three points at Hoffenheim's PreZero Arena on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt will hope to maintain their five-point advantage over Werder Bremen after hosting them on Saturday at Deutsche Bank Park in their 11th Bundesliga outing of the season. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Newcastle defender Lewis Hall says his lack of game time in the first-team left him 'in a dark place' last season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams who could really do with a victory kick off round 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season as Go Ahead Eagles welcome Almere City to De Adelaarshorst on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Promotion-chasing Barnsley are favourites heading into Saturday's gameweek 17 League One match at Oakwell. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord and Heerenveen will both be looking to pick up where they left off right before the international break in Saturday's meeting at De Kuip in matchday 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City officially announce that manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in La Liga for the first time this season when they welcome Espanyol to Estadi Montilivi on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk An in-form Las Palmas will be aiming to make it five wins from their last six matches in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Mallorca on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Following four straight defeats leading into the international break, Aston Villa will return to action on Saturday, when Crystal Palace pay a visit to Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly set a £100m asking price for Enzo Fernandez amid interest from Real Madrid. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Saudi Pro League action will return to the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium this weekend when Al Khaleej play host to the defending champions Al-Hilal on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid will be aiming to make it five straight wins in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign against Alaves at Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Robert Lewandowski is a mesmerising goal scorer, but it turns out that's not his only talent. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace may be without two of their key creators when they kick off on Saturday afternoon, as an ailing Premier League campaign resumes away to Aston Villa.