Benfica vs Rio Ave Prediction and Betting Tips | January 14th 2024
Benfica will host Rio Ave at the Estadio da Luz on Sunday in another round of the 2023-24 Primeira Liga campaign.
The home side are enjoying a brilliant run of results at the moment as they look to successfully defend their Primeira Liga title. They picked up a comfortable 3-0 win over Arouca in their last league outing before beating Sporting Braga 3-2 in the last 16 of the Taca da Portugal earlier in the week.
Benfica sit second in the league table with 39 points from 16 matches. They are just one point behind rivals Sporting at the top of the pile and could leapfrog them with a win on Sunday.
Rio Ave, meanwhile, have had their struggles this season and currently find themselves just outside the drop zone as the midpoint of the season approaches. They, however, returned to winning ways last weekend with a 2-0 victory over Portimonense via second-half goals from Ghana international Emmanuel Boateng and former Porto man Ze Manuel.
The visitors sit 15th in the table with 15 points picked so far and will be looking to add to that tally this weekend.
Benfica vs Rio Ave Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- Sunday's game will mark the 65th meeting between Benfica and Rio Ave. The hosts have won 48 of their previous matchups while the visitors have won just five times. There have been 11 draws between the two teams.
- The hosts have won their last 11 games in this fixture.
- The visitors are without a clean sheet in their last 19 games in this fixture, a run stretching back to 2014.
- Benfica have the best defensive record in the Portuguese top-flight this season with a goal concession tally of 10.
- Rio Ave are one of two teams in the Primeira Liga this season without a win on the road.
Benfica vs Rio Ave Prediction
Benfica are on a brilliant six-game winning streak and are undefeated in their last 11 games across all competitions. They are undefeated in their last eight home matches and will be looking forward to the weekend clash.
Rio Ave, meanwhile, saw their latest result end a five-game winless streak and will be looking to build on that this weekend. They have, however, struggled for results on the road this season and could lose this one.
Prediction: Benfica 3-0 Rio Ave
Benfica vs Rio Ave Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Result: Benfica to win
Tip 2 - Goals - Over/under 2.5 - Over 2.5 goals (Four of the last six matches between the two teams have produced more than 2.5 goals)
Tip 3 - Both teams to score: NO (Both sides have found the back of the net in just one of the hosts' last five league matches)