Belenenses vs Rio Ave Predictions

Belenenses and Rio Ave are both battling to finish in the top half of the Primeira Liga this season, and we’re expecting a tight and tense ninety minutes between the pair on Saturday. The gap between the two clubs was reduced to five points last weekend when Belenenses could only manage a draw and Rio Ave picked up three points at home.

Chaves took the lead at home to Belenenses last time out, but the visitors equalised shortly before the break and the teams went in level. Belenenses were starting to control the match and even took the lead early in the second half through Licá, and really should have converted more chances before Chaves equalised in the seventy-sixth minute and the game ended 2-2. A Filipe Augusto penalty shortly after the half hour mark saw Rio Ave lead at halftime against Vitoria Guimaraes, and just three minutes after the restart Nuno Santos made it 2-0 to the hosts. Vitoria Guimaraes scored a late penalty and Rio Ave had Fábio Coentrão sent-off in stoppage time, but the hosts held on to secure all three points.

The recent head to head record between these two clubs and their performances in the Primeira Liga over the last few weeks, all points towards under 2.5 goals being scored on Saturday and Belenenses pinching a narrow victory. Four of the last six meetings between these two clubs have produced under 2.5 goals, and three of the last five encounters between the pair have been settled by a win to nil. Three of Belenenses’ last four and three of Rio Ave’s last five matches have produced under 2.5 goals, while the visitors have only won one of their last four away games and the hosts are unbeaten in their last three games at home.

Licá is just one goal away from reaching double figures in the league for Belenenses, while, now that Carlos has left, Moreira and Galeno joint top score for the visitors with five goals apiece. We’re confident that under 2.5 goals will be scored on Saturday, and have backed Belenenses to claim a 1-0 win. The hosts are unbeaten in their last three matches and Rio Ave have struggled on the road, and both teams have been involved in low scoring matches over recent weeks.