Our prediction for this Portugal Primeira Liga match:
Rio Ave
Match Time & Date:
09/03/2024
01:00 PM
Prediction: 0-1
Braga
Saturday’s football game at Estadio do Rio Ave pits together Rio Ave and Braga, the two sides with entirely different ambitions for the season finale. Os Rioavistas are determined to secure yet another Primeira Liga survival, while Braga are eyeing a spot in the Champions League. As the hosts produced an under-par performance (3 goal attempts) in a goalless draw with Moreirense, home win should not be considered. To make things even worse for the home team, midfielder Renato Pantalon is banned for the match.
The Reds, on the other hand, are eyeing their fourth consecutive league win. Braga have been scoring goals for fun of late and even though Ricardo Horta got injured again at the weekend, we are tempted to put our money on the visiting side. Bruma is widely expected to replace Horta in the starting XI, while Vitor Carvalho is a major doubt after limping off with injury in the 3-0 win over Estrela.
Highlighted Player (Ricardo Horta):
Ricardo Horta is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Sporting Braga in Primeira Liga. Born in Sobreda, Portugal, on September 15, 1994, Ricardo Horta spent his youth career at Ginasio Corroios, Benfica, and Vitoria Setubal.
The 173-cm-tall winger continued playing for Setubal at the senior level, but he moved to Malaga in the summer of 2014, signing a five-year deal with the La Liga outfit. Ricardo Horta scored only one goal in 48 appearances for los Boquerones in the Spanish top flight before signing a loan deal with Braga. In July 2017, he signed a permanent contract with the Minhotos.
Ricardo Horta made his Primeira Liga debut against Rio Ave back in April 2013, during his spell with Vitoria Setubal. His primary position is left winger, but he is capable of producing good performances as a right winger as well. He made his Portugal debut in a 1-0 loss to Albania in the Euro 2016 qualifiers.
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.
