Round 18
Rio Ave vs. Sporting CP
Estádio dos Arcos, Vila do Conde, Portugal.
18.01.25 at 21:00
Rio Ave will welcome Sporting CP to the Estádio dos Arcos in the 18th round of the Primeira Liga. Rio Ave is tenth in the league standings and is 21 points behind Sporting CP in first place.
Let's have a look at the latest Portuguese Primeira Liga predictions between Rio Ave vs. Sporting CP, probable lineups, match facts and betting odds for you to consider!
Note: Odds are subject to change at any time!
Claim Your Registration Bonus!Rio Ave
Form: DWLDL
Rio Ave has made a promising start to the new year as they have gone two matches without defeat. The home team recently defeated Casa Pia 3-1 away from home in the Taca de Portugal round of 16 to book their spot in the next round.
Before this, they came from a goal behind to hold Gil Vicente to a 1-1 draw away from home thanks to Brandon Aguilera's equalizer in the 59th minute.
Vilacondenses unbeaten run in the new year is under threat as they go up against the defending champions, Sporting CP. This is a team they've failed to defeat in their last nine meetings (D3, L6), but given their opponent's unconvincing performances, they will fancy their chances of a win here.
Probable Starting XI
Formation: 4-3-3
Miszta; Vrousai, Petrasso, Santos, Richards; Tiknaz, Neto, Novais; Bondoso, Morais, Aguilera
Sporting CP
Form: DWDWL
After their valiant efforts to cruise past FC Porto in the Taca da Liga semifinal, winning 1-0 at home thanks to Viktor Gyökeres's lone strike in the second half, Sporting CP were met with a Benfica team hell-bent on exacting revenge in the final. As destiny would've wanted, they lost 7-6 on penalties.
This was the Lions' first loss after enjoying a six-match unbeaten run across all competitions, recording four wins and two draws.
However, league form has been cause for concern as they have won just two of their last six matches, and this includes a disappointing 4-4 draw against Vitoria de Guimaraes, highlighting their struggles on the defensive front.
Probable Starting XI
Formation: 4-4-2
Israel; Quaresma, Diomande, St. Juste, Araujo; Catamo, Morita, Hjulmand, Quenda; Trincao, Gyokeres
Match Facts
- Rio Ave has scored in four of their last five matches across all competitions.
- Sporting CP has won six of their last seven meetings against Rio Ave.
- Rio Ave is currently on an eight-match unbeaten run at home in the Primeira Liga.
- Sporting CP has conceded a goal in three of their last four away matches in the Primeira Liga.
Head-To-Head
In the last 44 meetings, Rio Ave has won 7 times, Sporting CP has won 27 times, and there have been 10 draws, with the goal difference being 79-40 in favor of Sporting CP.
History of Head-to-Heads
Taca de Portugal 2024/2025 
Sporting CP
Taca de Portugal 2024/2025
Rio Ave
Liga Portugal 2024/2025
Sporting CP
Liga Portugal 2024/2025
Rio Ave
Liga Portugal 2023/2024
Sporting CP
Rio Ave Latest Games
Rio Ave
Santa Clara
Rio Ave
Estoril
Rio Ave
Tondela
Rio Ave
Rio Ave
FC Porto
Rio Ave
Braga
Sporting CP Latest Games
Sporting CP
Estrela da Amadora
Club Brugge
Sporting CP
Sporting CP
Alverca
Sporting CP
Marseille
Braga
Sporting CP
Sporting CP
Expert Betting Tips
Rio Ave might be underdogs, but this is a side that you don't want to underestimate. This is in light of their dominance at home, where they've denied opponents maximum points in eight games. They have the fifth-best record in the league, and rest assured, when push comes to shove, they won't sit idly by.
Sporting CP still leads at the top, but if they fail to win here, they could give their position again. Yes, they are superior to their opponents in this impending encounter, but I'm a bit doubtful about their abilities to secure a win here after conceding four goals last time out against Vitoria Guimaraes. This is why I'm expecting to see goals from both ends of the pitch here.
Our main pick for the game: Both Teams To Score - Yes for 1.90 with Bet365.
2nd prediction: Handicap 1 (+1.5) for 1.97 with 1xbet.
3rd prediction: Both Teams To Score + Over 2.5 goals for 2.02 with Betway.
Other predictions
