Preview:Arouca vs AVS - prediction, team news, lineups

FC Arouca will welcome AVS to Estadio Municipal de Arouca on Saturday afternoon as the two sides begin their 2025-26 Primeira Liga campaigns.

Both teams endured different paths last season, with Arouca securing a mid-table finish and AVS surviving by the narrowest of margins via the relegation playoffs.

Match preview

It has been five seasons now since FC Arouca re-established themselves in the Portuguese top flight, and under Vasco Seabra, they have remained a competitive, if inconsistent, presence.

The 2024-25 campaign saw the club finish in 12th place, collecting 38 points from 34 matches by virtue of nine wins, 11 draws, and 14 losses, which framed a season that was defined by brief patches of promise interrupted by defensive lapses and occasional profligacy in the final third.

That said, Seabra will be encouraged by the club's movement in the transfer window; the arrivals of Jakub Vinarcik from Juventus and Hyun-ju Lee from Bayern Munich point to a more ambitious recruitment strategy.

The addition of attacking options like Brian Mansilla and Vladislav Morozov should also improve their threat in front of goal, the midfield - anchored by players like Carvalho and Fukui - offers balance, while the backline remains largely intact, giving the team some sense of continuity.

However, pre-season form has done little to inspire confidence. Losses to the likes of Tondela, Lusitania, Petro de Luanda, and Famalicao have raised questions about Arouca's defensive solidity, though they did register wins against Maritimo and Academico Viseu.

The hosts have dominated this fixture in the short history between the sides; in their two league meetings last season, Arouca edged a 1-0 win away at AVS in March, while the earlier reverse fixture ended 1-1 at this venue.

AVS, meanwhile, are entering only their second-ever top-flight season after a dramatic promotion and subsequent escape from relegation.

Having edged Portimonense in the 2024 playoff to climb into the top flight, the Vila das Aves outfit flirted with the drop all through the campaign and ultimately finished 16th with 27 points. As a result, they were forced into another playoff, which they survived against FC Vizela to ensure another season among the elite.

Survival, though, came at a cost. Eleven players departed the club this summer, including high-profile names such as Mexican veteran Guillermo Ochoa.

However, AVS have been far from idle in the market. The arrivals of players like Joao Goncalves, Pedro Lima, Rafael Barbosa, and the loan addition of Kobamelo Kodisang from Mamelodi have brought some much-needed freshness. Returning loanees like Balla Sangare and Edson Mucuana will also add depth.

Jose Mota remains at the helm, and the experienced Portuguese tactician will be fully aware of the task ahead. Pre-season offered a mixed bag of performances, as while they avoided defeat in matches against Varzim, Vitoria Setubal, and Rio Ave, they looked vulnerable in losses to Penafiel and Moreirense. Still, there is some optimism in the camp, driven by continuity in the dugout and a sprinkling of new blood.

Mota has been clear about his ambitions: improve on last season's tally, avoid the bottom three, and build a more cohesive unit. I

n players like Tunde Akinsola and Gustavo Assuncao, AVS possess the quality to hurt teams in transition. The system is expected to remain compact, with an emphasis on shape and directness.

Team News

Arouca have no reported injury concerns or suspensions ahead of this tie, so the full squad is available to Vasco Seabra, and the manager is expected to name a side similar to the one that closed out the pre-season campaign.

New signings are likely to feature, although some may start from the bench as they continue adapting to the demands of Portuguese football.

AVS also have a clean bill of health, as all players are fit and in contention for selection.

Tunde Akinsola and Gustavo Assuncao are expected to play key roles, while Mota will decide how many of his new signings are ready to start immediately.

Arouca possible starting lineup:

Valido; Pinto, Lamba, Fontan, Weverson; Carvalho, Fukui; Jason, Trezza, Puche; Arau

AVS possible starting lineup:

Simao; Fonseca, Teixeira, Castro, Rodrigues; Assuncao, Ciscar; Akinsola, Piazon, Mercado; Nene

We say: Arouca 2-1 AVS

Both teams head into the new campaign with reasons for cautious optimism. Arouca's greater experience at this level and more cohesive build-up through pre-season gives them a slight edge.

AVS will likely be compact and difficult to break down, but their attacking threat remains uncertain. Home advantage and a more potent attack could see Seabra's men edge this one narrowly.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.