Rio Ave take on the visitors Maritimo in the round 14 match of Liga Portugal. The match will be played on Friday, December 23rd at Estádio do Rio Ave (Vila do Conde).
Rio Ave just over 2 years ago was very close to a big sensation. The modest Portuguese were practically in no way inferior to Milan in the Europa League qualification, and only in a protracted penalty shoot-out the Italian giant was able to knock out a daring opponent. And at the end of that season, the Rivers quite unexpectedly flew out of Primeira. However, they were absent for the minimum amount of time, only 1 season. Having won that 2nd division, Luis Freire's wards were able to demonstrate the level of a fairly strong middle peasant in the fall. It is clear that there is no question of any return to European competitions. But in Primeira, it turned out to gradually gain momentum: if they started with 2 defeats and the only victory in 7 matches, then in October-November there were 4 wins in 6, including 1-0 with ecent opponents, Boavista and Arouca. Yes, and in the winter, in the League Cup, “Rio Ave” looked quite combat-ready.
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Maritimo were generally prone to unstable performances. In 2012, there was participation in the group stage of the Europa League, in 2016, the “Lions of Madeira” reached the cup final. But, for example, in the draw before last in Primeira, they finished only in 15th position. It seems that it turned out to add later, and at the end of the next championship the team returned to the top ten. But now it is impossible to name their performances other than as a “failure”. There is only one victory after the starting segment of 13 rounds and that was over another underdog, Pacos de Ferreira. And after all, it was a peak, before it we managed to share points with Boavista and Arouca, after that they recorded a goalless draw with Famalicao. But if someone had hopes for progress in the performance of the crisis team, then he then lost to Vitoria Guimaraes and looked weak in the League Cup. On the other hand, the situation is terrible, difficult, but not hopeless: to Gil Vicente, which is 16th, only 3 points, that is, a distance of 1 victory.
In the season before last, Maritima beat Rio Ave both at home and on the road. But more recently, the Rio Ave took revenge, however, in the League Cup – the only goal in Funchal was then scored by Aderlan Santos. But it was exactly what “put the squeeze on the opponent”: the hosts played in the minority from the 24th minute, when Ramirez was sent off. Rio Ave has gained momentum and is playing at home. We bet that this match will end with the victory of the host side.
Prediction for the match: Rio Ave to win.
