Primeira Liga match preview: Rio Ave believed to be the weaker party when Benfica pays a visit

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Competition: Portugal Primeira Liga
Date: Sun 12.May
Match begins: 19:00 (UTC)
Venue: Estádio do Rio Ave Futebol Clube (12815 seats)

This could be an interesting match as Rio Ave have their presumed home advantage while Benfica are ahead 39 points in the Primeira Liga table.

Both teams have had enough rest since their last competitive action. Let's hope for an energetic game!

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Rio Ave form and stats

When playing at home, Rio Ave have managed 5 wins, 6 draws and suffered 5 defeats from 16 games.

Rio Ave are returning here after visiting Moreirense in a Primeira Liga game and winning with a 2-1 scoreline. Preceding that game was the home draw versus Porto that ended 2-2.

Rio Ave have proved capable of finding the net in their games here at Estádio do Rio Ave Futebol Clube with 24 goals in 16 matches. Defensively it’s touch-and-go for the home team as 25 goals have been conceded.

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Benfica form and stats

The strength of Benfica, who have the most points (40) away in Primeira Liga, on their travels this season is incredible with 40 points collected from 16 away games. Benfica has 13-1-2 on the road, with 37 goals scored and 12 conceded. The away team have been very comfortable on their travels so far, racking up 13 wins, 1 draw and only 2 losses.

Benfica won their last game, 5-1 versus Portimonense played at home. Before that one, a nice away victory 4-1 at Sporting Braga.

The Benfica manager Bruno Lage has got the team scoring on the road, with 37 away goals in 16 matches. Benfica are defending well in their away games, having conceded only 12 times in 16 matches. For more goal statistics, check out the Statistics tab above.

Head 2 Head

The teams have played each other before this season, with the result Benfica - Rio Ave 4-2 entered in the official records. Head-to-head totals (for the last ten meetings): Rio Ave won 2 games, 1 match ended with a draw and Benfica has 7 wins. Over 2,5 goals / under 2,5 goals: 6 / 4

Top Goalscorers

H. Seferović
21 goals / 5 assists
Rafa Silva
15 goals / 2 assists
João Félix
13 goals / 7 assists

Rio Ave missing players

Benfica missing players

Rio Ave Benfica
Total Home Home vs top Statistic Away vs mid Away Total
32 16 5 Played 5 16 32
11 5 1 Won 3 13 26
9 6 1 Drew 0 1 3
12 5 3 Lost 2 2 3
45 24 7 Scored 5 37 96
48 25 10 Conceded 4 12 28
97% 94% 100% Over 0.5 100% 100% 100%
84% 88% 100% Over 1.5 80% 81% 84%
62% 75% 100% Over 2.5 0% 56% 66%
31% 38% 40% Over 3.5 0% 44% 59%
9% 6% 0% Over 4.5 0% 19% 34%
72% 81% 100% BTTS 0% 38% 47%
16% 12% 0% Clean Sheets 60% 50% 47%
16% 12% 0% Failed To Score 40% 12% 6%
 
5 5.7 4.8 Corners For (avg) 8 5.9 6.7
5.9 5.8 7 Corners Against (avg) 3.2 3.9 3.1
2.8 2.6 3.2 Yellow Cards (avg) 2.2 2.6 2.1
11 5 3 Red Cards 1 5 7
Key stats this season:
  • Benfica have scored at least twice as many goals as they have conceded.
  • Benfica have scored more than double the goals of Rio Ave.
  • Benfica have won at least twice as many corners as they have conceded.
  • Benfica haven’t played a single 0-0 game.
  • Rio Ave have played more matches over 2,5 goals home than away.

Rio Ave
All Primeira Liga Taça De Portugal Europa League League Cup Club Friendlies
All Home Away
08-03-19 PL Chaves 1 - 1 Rio Ave
17-03-19 PL Nacional 0 - 1 Rio Ave
31-03-19 PL Rio Ave 0 - 2 Desportivo Aves
07-04-19 PL Sporting CP 3 - 0 Rio Ave
14-04-19 PL Rio Ave 2 - 1 Vitória Guimarães
20-04-19 PL Belenenses 1 - 3 Rio Ave
26-04-19 PL Rio Ave 2 - 2 Porto
03-05-19 PL Moreirense 1 - 2 Rio Ave
12-05-19 PL Rio Ave 19:00 Benfica
19-05-19 PL Vitória Setúbal 15:00 Rio Ave
Benfica
All Primeira Liga Taça De Portugal Champions League International Champions Cup Europa League League Cup Club Friendlies
All Home Away
14-04-19 PL Benfica 4 - 2 Vitória Setúbal
18-04-19 EL Eintracht Frankfurt 2 - 0 Benfica
22-04-19 PL Benfica 6 - 0 Marítimo
28-04-19 PL Sporting Braga 1 - 4 Benfica
04-05-19 PL Benfica 5 - 1 Portimonense
12-05-19 PL Rio Ave 19:00 Benfica
19-05-19 PL Benfica 15:00 Santa Clara
20-07-19 ICC Benfica 08:00 Guadalajara
25-07-19 ICC Roma - Benfica
28-07-19 ICC Milan 19:00 Benfica

  Total Home Away  
# Team MP W D L F A MP W D L F A MP W D L F A D P
1 Benfica 32 26 3 3 96 28 16 13 2 1 59 16 16 13 1 2 37 12 68 81
2 Porto 32 25 4 3 68 19 16 14 0 2 39 8 16 11 4 1 29 11 49 79
3 Sporting CP 32 23 4 5 71 30 16 14 1 1 37 12 16 9 3 4 33 18 41 73
4 Sporting Braga 33 20 4 9 54 37 16 12 1 3 30 15 17 8 3 6 24 22 17 64
5 Moreirense 33 16 4 13 38 41 16 8 3 5 17 16 17 8 1 8 21 25 -3 52
6 Vitória Guimarães 32 13 7 12 38 32 16 9 4 3 22 11 16 4 3 9 16 21 6 46
7 Santa Clara 33 11 9 13 42 41 17 5 5 7 24 26 16 6 4 6 18 15 1 42
8 Rio Ave 32 11 9 12 45 48 16 5 6 5 24 25 16 6 3 7 21 23 -3 42
9 Boavista 33 12 5 16 33 40 17 10 1 6 20 13 16 2 4 10 13 27 -7 41
10 Belenenses 32 9 13 10 38 46 16 5 5 6 22 26 16 4 8 4 16 20 -8 40
11 Portimonense 33 11 6 16 44 57 17 8 4 5 29 24 16 3 2 11 15 33 -13 39
12 Marítimo 33 12 3 18 26 43 16 8 2 6 17 16 17 4 1 12 9 27 -17 39
13 Desportivo Aves 33 10 6 17 34 47 17 5 3 9 20 23 16 5 3 8 14 24 -13 36
14 Vitória Setúbal 32 7 12 13 25 35 16 4 6 6 12 15 16 3 6 7 13 20 -10 33
15 Chaves 32 8 8 16 31 50 16 4 6 6 19 21 16 4 2 10 12 29 -19 32
16 Tondela 32 8 7 17 34 52 16 6 3 7 17 22 16 2 4 10 17 29 -18 31
17 Nacional 32 7 7 18 33 66 16 5 3 8 12 18 16 2 4 10 21 48 -33 28
18 Feirense 33 2 11 20 25 63 16 1 6 9 17 30 17 1 5 11 8 33 -38 17

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