Benfica vs Rio Ave Predictions

• Benfica have won 15 home matches on the spin in the Primeira Liga
• Rio Ave are winless in their last 25 Primeira Liga away games
• The visitors have lost their previous three away league matches to nil

Benfica to bounce back from Euro defeat

Benfica were a perfect six wins from six under new head coach Bruno Lage prior to their midweek Champions League defeat to Feyenoord, but they can return to winning ways against poor travellers Rio Ave.

The Eagles may have lost on home soil in Europe, but they have a phenomenal record at the Estadio da Luz domestically, as they have won their last 15 Primeira Liga matches at the venue and have not lost a league game there of any sort since April 2023.

With nine clean-sheets across that 15-game winning streak on home soil as well, Benfica will be confident of returning to winning ways this weekend.

Rio Ave notoriously poor on the road

Rio Ave have lost all four of their away league games this term, scoring just once, and they are the only side yet to pick up a point on their travels in this season’s Primeira Liga.

That record should come as no surprise, as Luis Freire’s side have been poor travellers for some time, going the whole of last season without triumphing on their travels in the league, while their current winless away run in the top flight stands at 25 games.

In their last away match in the league Rio Ave lost 4-0 to Braga, and while they may not be on the receiving end of such a heavy defeat this time around, Benfica have won 3-0 twice already this season and can wrap up another comfortable success.