Team Form & Recent Performances

Rio Ave

• 2025/26 Record: 0W, 3D, 2L in Liga Portugal (3 points, 15th); 2024/25 Liga Portugal 10th with 11W, 8D, 15L

• Latest Result: Lost 3-1 at Moreirense (September 7, 2025), drew 2-2 vs. Braga (August 31, 2025), per

• Home Form: 0W, 2D, 0L in 2 Liga Portugal home games (4 goals scored, 3 conceded); 7W, 5D, 5L in 17 home games in 2024/25 (22 goals scored, 18 conceded)

Rio Ave are struggling to find their footing, winless in their first five matches and sitting 15th. Their 3-1 loss at Moreirense exposed defensive frailties, conceding 1.8 xG despite 48% possession, per. Their 2-2 draw against Braga, with Clayton scoring twice, showed attacking promise, per. At Estádio dos Arcos, they average 2.0 goals scored and 1.5 conceded per game this season, per. Over their last five games (0W, 3D, 2L), they’ve scored 7 goals and conceded 9, per. No major injuries are reported, but their defensive lapses (9 goals conceded in 5 games) are a concern, per. Their 49% possession and 3.8 shots on target per game reflect attacking intent but lack of clinical finishing, per.

FC Porto

• 2025/26 Record: 5W, 0D, 0L in Liga Portugal (15 points, 1st); 2024/25 Liga Portugal 3rd with 18W, 8D, 8L

• Latest Result: Won 1-0 vs. CD Nacional (September 13, 2025), won 2-0 at SC Farense (August 30, 2025), per

• Away Form: 2W, 0D, 0L in 2 Liga Portugal away games (4 goals scored, 0 conceded); 9W, 4D, 4L in 17 away games in 2024/25 (28 goals scored, 15 conceded)

FC Porto are in top form, leading the Liga Portugal with a perfect record. Their 1-0 win over CD Nacional, with a goal from Samu Aghehowa, showcased defensive solidity, per. Their 2-0 victory at SC Farense highlighted their clinical edge, per. Away, they average 2.0 goals scored and 0 conceded this season, per. Over their last five games (5W, 0D, 0L), they’ve scored 12 goals and conceded 1, per. Injuries to Nehuen Perez (Achilles tendon), Alberto Costa, and Martim Fernandes, with doubts over Luuk de Jong and William Gomes, weaken their squad, per. Their 58% possession and 5.2 shots on target per game reflect dominance, per.

Head-to-Head Stats & Historical Context

• Overall Record: Porto lead with 26 wins to Rio Ave’s 1, 6 draws in 33 matches, per

• Recent Meeting: February 3, 2025—Rio Ave 2-2 FC Porto (Liga Portugal), per

• Key Trend: Porto are unbeaten in their last 14 H2Hs (13W, 1D); 3 of 5 saw both teams score, averaging 2.82 goals per game; Porto won 6 of 7 away H2Hs, per,

The February 2025 clash ended in a 2-2 draw, with Rio Ave’s Clayton and André Luiz scoring, matched by Porto’s late fightback, per. Porto’s 2-0 win at Rio Ave in 2024 and 3-1 home win in 2023 highlight their dominance, per. Both teams scored in 60% of recent H2Hs, with Porto averaging 2.2 goals to Rio Ave’s 0.74, per. Porto’s away strength (2W in 2) meets Rio Ave’s home resilience (0W, 2D), setting up a challenging match, per.

Key Players to Watch

Rio Ave

• Clayton (FWD): 3 goals in Liga Portugal; scored twice vs. Braga. A key threat, per

• André Luiz (MID): 2 goals, 1 assist in Liga Portugal. His creativity is vital, per

• Matheus Teixeira (GK): 1 clean sheet in Liga Portugal, 66% save rate. Crucial against Porto’s attack, per

FC Porto

• Samu Aghehowa (FWD): 2 goals in Liga Portugal; scored vs. Nacional. A rising star, per

• Nico González (MID): 1 goal, 2 assists in Liga Portugal. His 85% pass accuracy drives play, per

• Diogo Costa (GK): 3 clean sheets in Liga Portugal, 72% save rate. Key at Estádio dos Arcos, per

Tactical Insights & Match Dynamics

Rio Ave’s 4-3-3, under Sotiris Silaidopoulos, relies on Clayton and Luiz’s flair, with João Novais and Vitor Gomes in midfield, averaging 49% possession and 3.8 shots on target per game, per. They’ll target Porto’s depleted defense (0.5 goals conceded away), but their 1.8 goals conceded per game is a concern, per. Porto’s 4-2-3-1, led by Francesco Farioli, uses Aghehowa and Galeno up top, with González and Pablo Rosario in midfield, averaging 58% possession and 5.2 shots on target, per. Despite injuries, they’ll exploit Rio Ave’s 1.5 goals conceded at home with high pressing, but their 3/5 games conceding in Europe raise flags, per. The 12,650-capacity Estádio dos Arcos will push Rio Ave, but Porto’s form is daunting, per. Web buzz favors Porto at 1.41 odds, with BTTS at 1.80, citing Porto’s dominance and Rio Ave’s home scoring, per.