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

Still searching for their first win of the 2025-26 Primeira Liga campaign, Rio Ave welcome Braga to Estadio dos Arcos on Sunday evening for matchday four action.

The hosts have drawn both of their league fixtures so far, while their title-chasing visitors have picked up seven points from three matches.

Match preview

One of just four teams to have played a game fewer than scheduled, Rio Ave saw their opener with Benfica postponed due to their opponent’s continental commitments, meaning the Vilacondenses began their season on matchday two.

Despite ample time to prepare, Sotiris Silaidopoulos’s men were forced to settle for a point in their first outing against 10-man Nacional, as Dos Arcos surrendered an early advantage in the 83rd minute.

A similar story unfolded last weekend, as Rio Ave let a 3-2 lead slip, with a stoppage-time strike from Nais Djouahra denying Silaidopoulos his first win in charge.

Appointed in June, the Greek manager has yet to stamp his full authority, with a costly habit of failing to see out games carried over from last term, stretching the sequence to four consecutive league draws from winning positions.

As Rio Ave look to put an end to this troubling pattern, they can draw encouragement from their most recent meeting with Braga, which ended in a 2-1 victory at Dos Arcos.

That result made it two away games without a win for the Archbishops in this fixture, and their display in their most recent top-flight outing raises questions over whether they can end that streak here.

Like the hosts, Braga were also guilty of surrendering control, having squandered a two-goal cushion at home to AVS last weekend to settle for a 2-2 draw.

Fans of the Archbishops will have been left frustrated by the outcome, particularly given the lofty standards expected this campaign after once again finishing behind the traditional big three in fourth place last season.

That stalemate halted their flawless start to 2025-26, but Carlos Vicens’s men can take confidence from their midweek exploits after sweeping aside Lincoln Red Imps 5-1 to secure a 9-1 aggregate victory and a place in the Europa League group stage.

Rio Ave Primeira Liga form:

Rio Ave form (all competitions):

Braga Primeira Liga form:

Braga form (all competitions):

Team News

Rio Ave completed the signing of 19-year-old Rafael Lobato in midweek, and he could be handed some minutes from the bench on Sunday.

Dario Spikic impressed on his debut, coming off the bench to score, so he may be rewarded with a starting role this time around.

Clayton has been in fine form with three goals in two games, including a brace last weekend, and will lead the line full of confidence.

For the visitors, Ricardo Horta remains a doubt, and if he fails to recover, Mario Dorgeles is likely to start in his place.

Gabri Martinez netted twice in his last league outing and will be pushing for a role on either flank, while Leonardo Lelo, Joao Moutinho, Paulo Oliveira and Rodrigo Zalazar, who were rested in midweek, are all expected to return to the XI.

Rio Ave possible starting lineup:

Miszta; Panzo, Ntoi, Abbey; Athanasiou, Aguilera, Bakoulas, Vrousai; Spikic, Clayton, Luiz

Braga possible starting lineup:

Hornícek; Arrey-Mbi, Oliveira, Carvalho; Lelo, Rodrigues, Gorby, Martínez; Zalazar, Dorgeles; Víctor

We say: Rio Ave 1-1 Braga

On paper, Rio Ave present Braga with their sternest test of the league season so far, and failure to overcome an AVS side that barely avoided relegation in the play-offs is another reason for caution.

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