Contents
- Competition: Liga Portugal
- Date: 9th August 2024
- Kick-off: 20:15 UTC +1 / 21:15 CET
- Venue: Estádio José Alvalade
The long-awaited start of the 2024-25 Portuguese top-flight campaign kicks off this week when Sporting CP host Rio Ave.
The 2023-24 season was one that Sporting and their fans will remember for a long time. Rúben Amorim's side claimed their first league title in three years, winning all 17 of their matches at the Estádio Municipal de Aveiro and had the best attack. They also reached the finals of the Portuguese Cup and Supercopa before losing both to Porto.
Safety has been Rio Ave's top priority since their promotion from the second tier two seasons ago. The visitors finished 12th in the 2022-23 campaign and improved by just one place last season.
Sporting CP vs. Rio Ave betting tips: Sporting to win & btts - no
One of the major drawbacks for the visitors last season was their away form. Rio Ave had the fourth-worst away record and were the only team to end the 2023-24 campaign without a win on the road.
Sporting are a force to be reckoned with at this venue. They had the best home record of any team in this division last season, and their record against Rio Ave at this venue is also good, with the Lions winning the last two league meetings 5-0 on aggregate.
- Best Tip: Home team to win
- Sporting CP vs Rio Ave prediction: 2-0
Sporting CP vs Rio Ave Head to Head (H2H) stats
-
Rio Ave
3 : 3
Sporting CP
Liga Portugal
-
Sporting CP
2 : 0
Rio Ave
Liga Portugal
-
Rio Ave
0 : 1
Sporting CP
Liga Portugal
-
Rio Ave
0 : 2
Sporting CP
League Cup
-
Sporting CP
3 : 0
Rio Ave
Liga Portugal
Sporting CP team news
Nuno Santos will be unavailable for Sporting CP head coach Rúben Amorim's squad on Friday due to injury.
Santos suffered a knee injury at the end of last month and isn't expected to return to action until 14 August.
The left-winger will be joined in the treatment room by Jerry St Juste, who is currently nursing a muscle injury.
Last matches of Sporting CP
-
Sporting CP
0 : 1
Porto
Super Cup
-
Sporting CP
3 : 0
Athletic Bilbao
Club Friendlies 3
-
Sporting CP
2 : 1
Sevilla
Club Friendlies 3
-
Sporting CP
2 : 2
Union Saint-Gilloise
Club Friendlies 3
-
Porto
1 : 0
Sporting CP
Ta?a De Portugal
Sporting CP lineup
Goalkeeper
-
13
Vladan Kova?evi?
Defenders
-
72
Eduardo Quaresma
-
6
Zeno Debast
-
25
Gon?alo Inácio
Midfielders
-
57
Geovany Quenda
-
42
Morten Hjulmand
-
5
Hidemasa Morita
-
21
Geny Catamo
Forwards
-
17
Francisco Trinc?o
-
9
Viktor Gy?keres
-
8
Pedro Gon?alves
Rio Ave team news
Rio Ave will continue to rely on the services of their captain Vítor Gomes who played 17 matches last season.
The midfielder will be joined in the middle of the park by Amine Oudrhiri and Umaro Embaló, while Aderlan Leandro de Jesus Santos will be the man to watch in defence.
Last matches of Rio Ave
-
Swansea City
3 : 0
Rio Ave
Club Friendlies 3
-
Rio Ave
1 : 1
CD Nacional
Club Friendlies 3
-
Rio Ave
1 : 2
Santa Clara
Club Friendlies 3
-
Gil Vicente
2 : 1
Rio Ave
Club Friendlies 3
-
Rio Ave
3 : 2
Arouca
Club Friendlies 3
Rio Ave lineup
Goalkeeper
-
18
Jhonatan
Defenders
-
4
Patrick
-
33
Aderlan Leandro de Jesus Santos
-
42
Renato Pantalon
Midfielders
-
11
Umaro Embaló
-
8
Vítor Gomes
-
10
Amine Oudrhiri
-
20
Costinha
Forwards
-
77
Fábio Ronaldo
-
22
Emmanuel Boateng
-
14
Joca
Three reasons we expect Sporting to win this game
- Sporting CP have won each of their last 19 games in the Primeira Liga.
- Rio Ave are winless in their last 20 games in Portugal's top flight.
- Five of the last six meetings between these two sides were won by Sporting.
Main prediction Sporting CP - Rio Ave
Both Teams to Score - NO
Strategic Betting Analyst: Expert in Developing and Implementing Data-Driven, Profitable Sports Betting Strategies.
Best Odds: