Rio Ave – Chaves Prediction & Picks (29.04.2018)

Rio Ave and Chaves face at Estádio do Rio Ave Futebol Clube, in a match for the 32nd round of the Primeira Liga. The two teams tied (1-1), on 17-12-2017, in the previous match for this edition of the league. In this stadium, the history of direct confrontations is favorable to the home team, which records 1 win and 3 draws in the last 4 matches. However, the last time these two teams played a match in this stadium was on 08-01-2017, in a match for the Primeira Liga that ended in a draw for (2-2). The goals of the match were scored by Tarantini (18 ‘) and Guedes (80’), for Rio Ave, and Fábio Martins (54 ‘) and Rafael Lopes (75′), for Chaves. In this game the home factor may be decisive, since both teams present considerable differences in the results achieved at home and as a visitor.

Rio Ave:

The home team is currently in the 5 th position, with 44 points won, after 13 wins, 5 draws and 13 losses. In the penultimate match, they tied in a home match against Tondela, by (1-1). In the last match, they lost in an away match against Moreirense, by (2-1). This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 4 wins, 1 draw and 10 losses in away matches, with 16 goals scored and 31 conceded; against 9 wins, 4 draws and 2 losses at their stadium, with 27 goals scored and 15 suffered. For the championship, Rio Ave conquered 20 points out of 30 possible, after 6 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses in the last 10 home matches.

For this competition, they have not lost any of the last 8 home matches. In their home league matches the most frequent result at half-time was the 0-0 (7 out of 15 matches). The team allowed goals to the opponent in 7 of the last 10 matches for this competition, so it has not been very strong defensively. In 31 matches in the competition, they suffered the first goal 14 times and only managed 2 comebacks.

The Rio Ave arrives at this unmotivated game, after a foreign snub, by 2-1, in the visit to the Moreirense field. The home team presents more individual arguments in this game and acting at home guesses that it adopts a more offensive stance. Rio Ave usually uses a tactical system in 4-3-3, privileging fast transitions. In this tactical design, the three most advanced players are Diego Lopes, Hélder Guedes and João Novais. Coach Miguel Cardoso must have all players available for this game.

Chaves:

The away team is currently in the 7 th position of the league, with 41 points won, after 11 wins, 8 draws and 12 losses. In the penultimate match, they tied in an away match against Boavista, by (3-3). In the last match, they won in a home match against Portimonense, by (2-1). This is a team that usually gets better results in away matches than at home, since in the last 30 matches they register 7 wins, 1 draw and 7 losses in away matches, with 16 goals scored and 23 conceded; against 5 wins, 6 draws and 4 losses at their stadium, with 23 goals scored and 24 suffered. For the championship, Chaves won 16 points out of 30 possible, after 5 wins, 1 draw and 4 losses in the last 10 matches as a visitor. They have not been very strong defensively, since they have suffered goals in 8 of the last 10 matches, but their offense has scored frequently, since they have scored goals in 7 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In 31 matches in this competition, they have only won 2 of all of the 18 matches they won in the first goal. In the last 15 home matches for this competition there is 1 period that stands out: they have scored 8 of their 16 goals between minutes (76’-90 ‘).

Chaves enters this game motivated, after a home victory, by 2-1, in the reception to Portimonense: Pedro Tiba scored two goals in the match, allowing his team to conquer the three points. The visiting club usually acts in a traditional 4-3-3, in which the three most advanced players are Matheus Pereira, Davidson and William. In the middle line it is possible that Davidson, William and Matheus Pereira act. One of the best qualities of the visiting team is the positive response they can give when they are at a disadvantage on the scoreboard. The technician Luís Castro will not be able to count on Hugo Basto, for being suspended.