Rio Ave vs Sporting CP prediction 28.08.2026 | Liga Portugal
Rio Ave
Kick off:
Date:
Sporting CP
1
9.45
X
6.09
2
1.31
Contents
- Competition: Liga Portugal
- Date: Friday, 28th August, 2026
- Kickoff: 20:15 UK / 21:15 CEST
- Venue: Estádio do Rio Ave (Vila do Conde)
The fourth round of the Liga Portugal will open with only one game on Friday's schedule as Rio Ave welcomes Sporting CP. Rio Ave comes into the game after a 2:0 win over Estoril, securing their first points. Meanwhile, Sporting CP won their last game 3:1 over Alvareca, winning their seventh point in the first three rounds.
Let's break down the game and find the best possible bet for this Liga Portugal tie.
Rio Ave vs Sporting CP Head to Head (H2H) stats
-
Rio Ave
1 : 4
Sporting CP
Liga Portugal
-
Sporting CP
4 : 0
Rio Ave
Liga Portugal
-
Sporting CP
2 : 0
Rio Ave
Taça De Portugal
-
Rio Ave
0 : 3
Sporting CP
Liga Portugal
-
Sporting CP
3 : 1
Rio Ave
Liga Portugal
-
Rio Ave
3 : 3
Sporting CP
Liga Portugal
Last season, Sporting CP won both h2h games. 4:0 at home and 4:1 on the road. However, that win on the road was a lot tougher than the scoreline suggests. Looking further back, over the past ten h2h games, Sporting CP won nine times, while the remaining game ended in a draw.
Regarding the number of goals, six out of the past ten ended with three or more goals, while both teams scored on four occasions.
Rio Ave team overview
Rio Ave have finished 11th or 12th in the previous four seasons since their return to Liga Portugal. However, considering they only won between 36 and 40 points in 34 rounds, we cannot really say they were outstanding. This season, like in the previous ones, the primary goal is not to get too involved in the relegation battle. After the first three rounds, they sit in 10th place with three points in three games.
For the upcoming game, the team will be without four players who were sidelined with injuries in previous matches: Joao Tome, Ryan Guilherme, Brandon Aguilera Zamora, and, most importantly, their best goalkeeper, Cezary Miszta. Last season, he missed some games with back problems, and it seems those problems are back at the start of this season.
Last matches of Rio Ave
-
Estoril
0 : 2
Rio Ave
Liga Portugal
-
Rio Ave
0 : 2
Porto
Liga Portugal
-
Gil Vicente
1 : 0
Rio Ave
Liga Portugal
-
Rio Ave
3 : 1
Tondela
Club Friendlies 3
-
Rio Ave
2 : 2
Al Ahli
Club Friendlies 3
Rio Ave lineup
Goalkeeper
-
99
Ennio van der Gouw
Defenders
-
54
Georgios Liavas
-
14
Jakub Brabec
-
23
Francisco Petrasso
-
6
Nelson Abbey
Midfielders
-
30
Roland Galcik
-
90
Diogo Nascimento
-
44
Tamás Nikitscher
Forwards
-
7
Diogo Bezerra
-
11
Jalen Blesa
-
9
Tamble
Sporting CP team overview
Sporting finished the last season trophyless. However, to be fair, the season wasn't that bad, as they finished 2nd with 82 points, which is often enough for the title. Unfortunately, FC Porto had an amazing season and eventually left them behind. The popular Lions had a chance to win the Taça de Portugal after reaching the Finals, but unexpectedly lost to Torreense!
Over the summer, the team suffered big losses as many of their key players left. But still, the Lions won seven points in three games and are in 2nd place - two points away from FC Porto.
Fotis Ioannidis missed the previous game after an injury he sustained in the second round and will most likely remain sidelined, along with Joao Simoes and Nuno Santos. Meanwhile, Pote and Daniel Braganca are close to leaving the club and will most likely not be in the squad.
Last matches of Sporting CP
-
Sporting CP
3 : 1
Alverca
Liga Portugal
-
Sporting CP
3 : 2
Vitoria Guimaraes
Liga Portugal
-
Estrela Amadora
2 : 2
Sporting CP
Liga Portugal
-
Sporting CP
4 : 1
Nottingham Forest
Club Friendlies 3
-
Sporting CP
2 : 0
Monaco
Club Friendlies 3
Sporting CP lineup
Goalkeeper
-
1
Rui Silva
Defenders
-
22
Iván Fresneda
-
55
Ibrahima Ba
-
6
Zeno Debast
-
20
Maxi Araújo
Midfielders
-
77
Issa Doumbia
-
17
Rodrigo Zalazar
-
5
Sergi Altimira
Forwards
-
10
Geny Catamo
-
97
Luis Suárez
-
58
Flávio Gonçalves
Prediction
Rio Ave lost two of the three games they played thus far. One of those losses was against a team that is around Sporting's level, FC Porto. They lost that match 2:0 at home, and we believe they will have similar problems with Sporting CP.
Meanwhile, Sporting CP won two of their three games. They were also very successful against Rio Ave in the previous H2H games, winning nine of the past ten games. Last season, they won twice with a combined goal difference of 8:1, proving they are a much better team.
Simply, the difference in quality should be too great, and we believe the Lions will secure a comfortable win over Rio Ave.
3 Reasons why Sporting CP should win and cover the -1.5 AH spread
- Rio Ave lost two out of three games this season
- Sporting CP won two out of three games this season
- Sporting CP won nine of the past ten h2h games
Main prediction Rio Ave - Sporting CP
AH2 (-1.5)
Best Odds:
Megapari
1.93
Rio Ave vs Sporting CP standings in Liga Portugal
| Regular Season | P | W | D | L |
G - A
|
GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Porto | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 - 0 | +6 | 9 |
| 2 | Sporting CP | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 - 5 | +3 | 7 |
| 3 | Marítimo | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 - 3 | +2 | 7 |
| 4 | Santa Clara | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 - 2 | +2 | 7 |
| 5 | Arouca | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 - 2 | +3 | 6 |
| 6 | Gil Vicente | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 - 0 | +3 | 6 |
| 7 | Benfica | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 - 2 | +7 | 4 |
| 8 | Nacional | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 - 3 | +1 | 4 |
| 9 | Vitória Guimarães | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 - 4 | -1 | 3 |
| 10 | Rio Ave | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 - 3 | -1 | 3 |
| 11 | Estrela Amadora | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 - 4 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | Academico Viseu | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 - 5 | -1 | 2 |
| 13 | Sporting Braga | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 - 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | Famalicão | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 - 4 | -2 | 1 |
| 15 | Alverca | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 - 7 | -4 | 1 |
| 16 | Estoril | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 - 5 | -4 | 1 |
| 17 | Moreirense | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 - 6 | -4 | 1 |
| 18 | Casa Pia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 - 10 | -10 | 0 |