Benfica Vs Rio Ave

Benfica and Rio Ave return to Portuguese Primeira Liga action this Sunday at the Estadio da Luz, meeting in round nine of the season. Both clubs come off recent matches with contrasting outcomes: Rio Ave advanced to the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal after defeating third-tier Atletico CP, while Benfica suffered a setback in the Champions League.

Match Preview

Benfica’s flawless Champions League run ended on Wednesday following a 3-1 loss to Eredivisie’s Feyenoord at the Estadio da Luz. Ayase Ueda and Antoni Milambo gave Feyenoord a commanding lead in the first half, and though Kerem Akturkoglu narrowed the gap for Benfica in the 66th minute, Milambo struck again in stoppage time to secure Feyenoord's win.

Earlier in their Champions League campaign, Benfica claimed a 2-1 victory over Serbia's Red Star Belgrade on September 19, followed by a resounding 4-0 win against Atletico Madrid at home. Now, with their focus back on the Primeira Liga, Bruno Lage’s team has been dominant, winning three consecutive league games and remaining unbeaten in their last six, scoring 17 goals while conceding just three. Despite a season-opening loss to Famalicao, Benfica’s strong performances have earned them 16 points from eight games, positioning them fourth in the standings, trailing leaders Sporting Lisbon by eight points.

Benfica enters Sunday’s game with confidence, having gone unbeaten in their last 13 meetings with Rio Ave, achieving 12 wins and one draw since their 3-2 Taca de Portugal loss in December 2017.

Rio Ave’s Challenge

Rio Ave comes into this clash after a hard-fought 3-1 extra-time win over Atletico CP in the Taca de Portugal last Saturday. Atletico’s Pedro Pinto equalized in the 84th minute, pushing the game into extra time, but Rio Ave’s Aderllan Santos and Ahmed Mahgoub responded quickly to seal their progress to the fourth round.

In the Primeira Liga, however, Rio Ave has struggled, unable to secure a win in their last four games, with two losses and two draws since a 1-0 win against Arouca on September 1. With just two wins from their eight league outings, Rio Ave sits 12th with eight points but could potentially move level with eighth-placed Moreirense with a win on Sunday.

Despite their recent Taca de Portugal victory, Rio Ave faces a daunting task at the Estadio da Luz, where Benfica has maintained a dominant form.