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

Rio Ave will be aiming to pick up their first win of the 2022-23 Primeira Liga campaign when they visit the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota to face Estoril Praia on Friday.

The home side head into the weekend off the back of a slender defeat at the hands of Vitoria de Guimaraes and will be looking to quickly return to winning ways.

Match preview

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Estoril Praia failed to make it two wins from their opening two games of the new Portuguese top-flight campaign as they fell to a 1-0 loss against Vitoria de Guimaraes at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques last Sunday.

In a game where Goncalo Eteves received his marching orders, Andre Silva delivered the goods once again as he netted for the second consecutive league game to hand the home side all three points.

Prior to that, the Canarinhos endured a torrid pre-season campaign, where they lost each of their three friendly games before claiming a comfortable 2-0 win over Famalicao in their league opener on August 6.

Nelson Verissimo's men head into the weekend unbeaten in their last four games on home turf in the Primeira Liga, picking up two wins and two draws since April's 2-1 defeat against Vizela.

Next up for Estoril Praia is the challenge of taking on a Rio Ave side who have won each of their last three league meetings between the sides since March 2017, scoring six goals and keeping three clean sheets in that time.

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Luis Freire's men failed to get up and running in the big leagues as they were on the receiving end of a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Sporting Lisbon when the sides met last Saturday.

Portuguese forward Pedro Goncalves turned in an eye-catching performance at the Estadio Jose Alvalade as he scored either side of Matheus Nunes's 67th-minute strike to hand Ruben Amorim's side all three points.

Prior to that, Rio Ave, who were crowned Segunda Liga champions last season and clinched promotion to the top flight, got their 2022-23 campaign underway with a 1-0 home loss against Vizela on August 6.

The Vilacondenses, whose last Primeira Liga win came in May 2021 when they saw off Nacional 2-1 away from home, head into the weekend seeking to get their campaign up and running and avoid a third consecutive defeat for the first time last December.

Team News

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Estoril Praia will take to the pitch without Esteves after the Sporting Lisbon loanee picked up a red card in the game against Vitoria de Guimaraes last time out.

In his absence, 20-year-old Gilson Tavares will push for his first start of the season, teaming up with Pedro Alvaro, Bernardo Vital and Joaozinho in the back four.

On the injury front, the home side will have to cope without the services of Lucas Africo, who is yet to feature this year after picking up a long-term knee injury last November.

As far as Rio Ave are concerned, Brazilian defender Junio Rocha will play no part in this weekend's encounter as he continues his road to full fitness after suffering a severe fibula injury.

Barring any late fitness issues, the 25-year-old remains the only guaranteed absentee for the visitors, who will most likely name a similar starting side that were beaten by Sporting Lisbon last Saturday.

Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:

Figueira; Tavares, Alvaro, Vital, Joaozinho; Rosier, Ndiaye; Gouveia, Geraldes, Gomes; Joaozinho

Rio Ave possible starting lineup:

Jhonatan; Pantalon, Santos, Amaral; Costinha, Guga, Gomes, Joca, Vitor; Ronaldo, Yakubu

We say: Estoril Praia 1-0 Rio Ave

Rio Ave have struggled to get going in the big leagues, losing their opening two games of the season while shipping four goals in that time. While the home side have also failed to reach full gear, they head into the weekend as firm favourites to come out on top. Given the gulf in experience and the quality of both sides, we fancy Estoril Praia to pick up all three points in this one.

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