Rio Ave vs Famalicao Predictions

• Both teams scored in 3 of their 4 previous meetings between these two clubs.
• Rio Ave have found the back of the net in 4 of their last 6 matches.
• Famalicao have only failed to score in 1 of their last 6 matches.
• Under 2.5 goals have been scored in 4 of Rio Ave’s and 4 of Famalicao’s last 6 matches.

Just 3pts separate these two sides in the Primeira Liga table

Rio Ave picked up 3pts last time out away at Vitoria Guimaraes and moved into 5th place in the Primeira Liga table, while Famalicao surprisingly lost 1-0 at home to Santa Clara and slipped down into 4th position. Both teams have so far defied the odds and have performed exceptionally well for teams that were predicted no higher than a mid-table finish this season, and with just 3pts separating the pair we are expecting a very close game this Friday.

Two of the duos’ four previous meetings have ended in 1-1 draws and three of their clashes have seen both teams score, so you can start to see just why we have backed both teams to score and the game to end in a 1-1 draw this Friday. Rio Ave have only failed to score in two of their last six matches while Famalicao have only failed to score in one of theirs, but under 2.5 goals have been produced in four of both clubs last six outings.

Rio Ave have only lost three times at home this season, drawing twice, while Famalicao have only lost three times on the road and have also picked up two draws on their travels. The hosts average 1.56 points per home game while their visitors average 1.56 points per away game, which is one of the reasons we have backed these two sides to cancel each other out on Friday night. Rio Ave score an average of 1.44 goals per home game and concede 1.00 goals while Famalicao score an average of 1.33 goals per away game and concede 1.67 goals, and we have backed the final scoreline to end 1-1 this Friday.

Both teams have been scoring goals on a regular basis

Only 22% of Rio Ave’s home games have produced over 2.5 goals this season, with those matches averaging 2.44 total goals. Both teams have scored in 44% of the hosts’ home games and 56% of the visitors’ away games this season, adding further weight to our prediction of a 1-1 draw between the pair. Just 22% of Rio Ave’s home matches and Famalicao’s away games have seen either side fail to score, so you can see why we have backed both teams to score on Friday.

Exactly 2-goals have been scored in 33% of the hosts’ home matches and Famalicao’s away matches this season, and we have backed that total of goals to be repeated on Friday. Rio Ave have only conceded in both halves of 11% of their home games, so the chances are Famalicao will only score in one half of Friday’s clash and the hosts have only conceded 9-goals at home, which works out at 1-goal per game.

We’re confident that both teams will score in Friday’s match and we have predicted a final scoreline of 1-1 between the pair. Both teams have performed to a very similar standard so far this season and each has been picking up plenty of points in recent weeks. The hosts have lost as many games at home as the visitors have on the road and we believe the pair will cancel each other out this Friday.