Rio Ave vs Benfica Prediction & Match Preview

Steffen Schmidt - March 30, 2023

Rio Ave vs Benfica
Portuguese Primeira Liga
Date: 2 April 2023, Sunday
Kick-off at 18:00 UK / 19:00 CET
Venue: Estadio do Rio Ave Futebol Clube (Vila do Conde).

Benfica’s nine-win streak in the league could be on a test on Sunday evening when the sovereign Primeira Liga leaders visit Vila do Conde for the 26th round clash against Rio Ave.

The Eagles are enjoying a spectacular campaign in this term of Primeira Liga. They won 22, drew 2, and lost 1 of 25 league games so far in the season.

This record is good enough to keep Roger Schmidt’s men ten points clear at the top of the standings.

With the title on the horizon and the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie against Inter Milan upcoming later this month, we can say this has so far been one of the best seasons in the last couple of decades for the Eagles.

Benfica stormed past Vitoria Guimaraes 5-1 in front of the home fans before the international break. Goncalo Ramos and Joao Mario continued their amazing campaigns by adding their names on the scoresheet once again.

Mario is the league’s top scorer with 17 goals, one more than his teammate Goncalo Ramos who opened the scoring two weeks ago against Guimaraes.

Nonetheless, this is going to be a tricky fixture for Benfica. Rio Ave won three of the last four league games, keeping clean sheets in two of these three victories.

The outfit led by Luis Freire will go into this encouraged by a streak of three straight victories on the home patch.

Rio Ave vs Benfica Head-to-head

• Benfica have been the dominant force in the history of this matchup with 37 wins, 8 draws, and 4 defeats in the last 49 clashes against Rio Ave.
• The Eagles will go into this on the back of ten straight wins over Rio Ave.
• Benfica bagged at least two goals in each of the previous eleven games against Rio Ave.

Rio Ave vs Benfica Prediction

Although both tradition and Benfica’s staggering attacking form suggest another easy victory for the Primeira Liga leaders, we believe Rio Ave have what it takes to make this a tight affair and potentially cause an upset in front of their fans in Vila do Conde.

The first pick is Under 2.5 goals FT at the 2.30 odds, while we will also back Rio Ave to win in +1.5 Asian Handicap at the odds of 1.85.

Rio Ave vs Benfica Betting Tips

• Under 2.5 goals FT @ 2.30 (13/10)

• Rio Ave to win in +1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 (17/20) odd.

[su_button url=”http://localhost/Projects/ll/portuguese-primeira-liga/” style=”flat” background=”#4D4DFF” color=”#ffffff” size=”6″ wide=”yes” center=”yes” radius=”5″ icon=”icon: soccer-ball-o” icon_color=”#ffffff”]Read all Portuguese Primeira Liga Tips[/su_button]