Our prediction for this Portugal Primeira Liga match:
Buoyed by a 2-0 win over Santa Clara, Porto will look to give fans yet another reason to celebrate when they take on Rio Ave on Matchday 3. The Dragons aim to keep their 100% record intact and they are likely to adopt an attack-minded approach in Saturday’s clash. Defender Zaidu Sanusi and forward Chico Conceicao should be the only absentees in the home team.
As Iran international Mehdi Taremi has joined Inter in the summer transfer window, returnee Fran Navarro is widely expected to lead the line for the hosts. Os Rioavistas, on the other hand, did well to beat Farense 1-0 at the weekend, with Patrick William scoring the only goal of the match. Rio Ave, though, are not regarded as good travellers and we do not believe that they are capable of spoiling Porto’s party at Estadio do Dragao. There are no injury worries in the away team.
Highlighted Player (Toni Martinez):
Born in Barrio del Progreso, Spain, on June 30, 1997, Toni Martinez is a forward who plays for Primeira Liga side Famalicao. Martinez is a product of Real Murcia football school, but in 2013 he moved to Valencia youth academy.
After scoring two goals in 16 appearances for Valencia B, the Spaniard signed a deal with West Ham United in April 2016 for a fee of around £2.4 million. However, he did not see any game action in the Premier League with the Hammers as he was immediately sent on loan to Oxford United.
Toni Martinez played for the likes of Real Valladolid, Rayo Majadahonda, and Lugo on loan as well before signing a three-year deal with Famalicao in the summer of 2019. He made his debut with the Azuis e Brancos on August 3, 2019, in a 2-0 home defeat to Covilha in the Taca da Portugal. Toni Martinez has two caps with the Spain U19 team.
Highlighted Team (Rio Ave):
Nicknamed Rio Grande, Rio Ave are a Portuguese club that compete in Primeira Liga. Rio Ave were founded back in 1939 and they welcome their rivals at Estadio dos Arcos, the stadium which can hold up to 12,815 people.
The team’s home shirt is green with white stripes, whilst the colour of their shorts is green. Rio Ave wear white shirts and white shorts when playing on the travels. The club’s biggest success came in the 2014/2015 season when they represented Portugal in the Europa League group stages. Rio Ave finished the process in the last position in Group J, but they did well to record their first ever win in the competition, with the team beating Danish club Aalborg 2-0 at their Estadio do Rio Ave Futebol Clube.
Former Real Madrid full-back Fabio Coentrao is considered one of the club’s most notable footballers. Manchester City first-choice goalkeeper Ederson played for Rio Ave in the past as well.