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

Fresh off the back of an Europa League opening-day victory over Malmo, Braga take a trip to the Estadio dos Arcos to face Rio Ave in round six of the Primeira Liga on Sunday.

The newly-promoted side, who head into the weekend unbeaten in 10 of their last 11 home games against Os Arcebispos, will set out to extend this fine record and move into the top half of the table.

Match preview

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Rio Ave were denied their first set of consecutive victories in the Primeira Liga as they could only salvage a 1-1 draw against fellow newcomers Chaves last Monday.

Colombian international Leonardo Ruiz came up clutch at the Municipal Stadium Engineer Manuel Teixeira Branco as he struck in the 90th minute to cancel out Hector Hernandez's first-half opener and force a share of the spoils.

Prior to that, Luis Freire's men picked up their first win of the season in superb fashion as they saw off reigning champions Porto 3-0 in front of their home fans, courtesy of a first-half brace from Aziz and Pedro Amaral's 33rd-minute strike.

The Vilacondenses have managed one win, two draws and lost two of their opening five games of the season to collect five points and sit 14th in the Primeira Liga table, but could potentially rise as high as eighth place with all three points on Sunday.

While Rio Ave will look to return to winning ways, next up is the stern challenge of taking on a rampant Braga side who are unbeaten in 14 of the last 20 meetings between the teams, claiming seven wins and seven draws in that time.

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Elsewhere, Braga kicked off their quest for European glory as they coasted to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Malmo in their Europa League Group D opener at the Eleda Stadion on Thursday.

Bruno Rodrigues opened his account for the season as he struck on the half-hour mark to hand the visitors a first-half lead before Ricardo Horta converted his 70th-minute penalty to make sure of the result.

Braga now turn their attention to the Primeira Liga, where they are currently on a four-game winning streak, scoring a staggering 15 goals and keeping four clean sheets since a 3-3 draw with Sporting Lisbon in August's league opener.

With 13 points from their opening five games, Artur Jorge's men are second in the league standings, two points off first-placed Benfica, who currently boast a 100% record this season.

Braga head into the weekend unbeaten in each of their last seven games across all competitions, claiming six wins and one draw since a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Portimonense in July's pre-season clash.

Team News

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Rio Ave will be with the services of Brazilian defender Junio Rocha, who continues his long road to full fitness after suffering a severe leg injury.

Jonny Arriba came off at half time against Chaves in what was a tactical change and the former Grasshopper Zurich defender should retain his role in the starting side.

Ruiz staked his claim for a place in the XI with his impressive cameo last time out and the Colombian forward could be rewarded with his first starting appearance of the season.

Meanwhile, Braga will take to the pitch without Spanish defender Victor Gomez, who has missed the last five games after coming off injured in August's league curtain-raiser against Sporting Lisbon.

With his strike against Malmo, Ricardo Horta now has five goal involvements in six games across all competitions and the 27-year-old forward should spearhead the attack, alongside new signing Simon Banza, who boasts five league goals to his name.

Rio Ave possible starting lineup:

Jhonatan; Nobrega, Santos, Pantalon; Costinha, Guga, Gomes, Amaral; Ronaldo, Joca, Aziz

Braga possible starting lineup:

Matheus; Fabiano, Tormena, Niakate, Sequeira; Lainez, Castro, A.Horta; R.Horta, Banza, Ruiz

We say: Rio Ave 0-2 Braga

While Rio Ave will set out to pick up back-to-back home wins, they face a Braga side who are currently firing on all cylinders. Jorge's side head into the weekend on a run of five consecutive wins in all competitions and we are backing them to come away with all three points once again.

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