Famalicao vs Rio Ave Prediction 16.02.2024

• Competition: Portugal &— Primeira Liga
• Date: Friday, 16th, February 2024
• Kickoff: 20:15 UTC / 21.15 CET
• Venue: Estadio Municipal de Famalicao (Vila Nova de Famalicao)

Two teams from the bottom half of the Primeira Liga table, Famalicao and Rio Ave, will face off against each other on Friday at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao.

Even as Famalicao ended their recent consecutive Primeira Liga losses, they also extended their streak without a win to three games after giving up an early lead to concede an equalizer in the first minute of stoppage time against Farense (1-1). Even with their resolve to vie for a European qualification this season, Joao Pedro Sousa’s team has been underperforming, with only 23 points to their name, putting them in a risky position just three points away from the relegation zone. While Famalicao can take solace in the fact that they have one more game in hand than most teams, including those ranked lower, they will need to significantly improve their performance in the forthcoming matches to avoid falling into the bottom three spots.

Rio Ave, brimming with confidence following a hard-earned 1-0 victory against Casa Pia, begins a short 38-kilometer journey. This victory was crucial, with Aziz playing a pivotal role in defeating Casa Pia’s strong defensive resistance in a game involving two teams at risk of relegation. The Vilacondenses, having secured this late but well-deserved weekend victory, extend their unbeaten streak to four games in Portugal’s top tier. This includes three consecutive draws, one of which was a commendable goalless tie against Porto. This run has moved them away from the relegation zone, although they are just one point above it, keeping the threat of dropping back into it alive.

Famalicao vs Rio Ave Betting Tips: Under 2.5

When the two least efficient teams face off, they’re expected to approach with extra caution to avoid failure and potentially ending up at the bottom. This is likely to result in a tough defensive match at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao, where a single goal could determine the winner. Famalicao’s poor performance this season is due in part to their difficulty in breaking through opposition defenses. They’ve only managed to score 19 times in 20 league games, putting them amongst the lowest scoring teams in the Primeira Liga, on par with Casa Pia and Vizela who are also threatened with relegation.

Famalicao, who have only managed to score twice in their last three top division games, with one goal from a penalty kick, may struggle in their upcoming match against Rio Ave. Rio Ave’s defense has been extremely strong lately, demonstrating a granite-like solidity. In fact, the team from Vila do Conde, known as the White and Greens, have not lost in their last four matches. Their defensive quarter has been particularly impressive, not conceding a goal in three of these games, including a draw against the powerful Porto. Given that Famalicao (8/12) and Rio Ave (6/15) have the least instances of exceeding 2.5 goals this season compared to other teams, and considering that four of the last five head-to-head matches have seen no more than two goals, we can expect a cautious match with few goals.