Football Previews
Sporting CP vs Rio Ave Competition – Portugal Primeira Liga Stadium – Estádio José Alvalade Date: 9th August 2024 Kick-off time – 20:15 GMT
Portuguese league defending champions Sporting CP will begin their defense of the title this Friday when they welcome Vila do Conde-based side Rio Ave to the Estádio José Alvalade.
Sporting stormed to the 2023/24 Primeira Liga title in style beating their closest rivals Benfica by ten points.
However, they began the new season poorly surrendering a first-half three-goal lead before losing 4-3 in the Portuguese Super Cup last week. That loss means that Ruben Almiron’s side have lost their last two competitive games, having lost to Porto in the Taca de Portugal final last season.
Nevertheless, Sporting have the upper hand in this fixture. The hosts are unbeaten against Rio Ave in the last eight meetings, winning five times.
Their record of 17 wins from 17 home games last season also suggests that they will start the new league season well.
Meanwhile, Rio Ave will be looking to better their eleventh-place finish from last season this campaign.
The visitors endured a frustrating 2023/24 campaign finishing as one of the eleven top-flight teams with a negative goal difference in the league last season. Their main problem was scoring goals with their return of 38 goals only better than four other teams.
They also struggled away from home last season, failing to win any league games outside their home stadium. So, with their last six games ending all square, they may be willing to take home just one point from their first league game of the season.
Other fixtures taking place this week in the Portugal Primeira Liga:
| December 22, 2024 | ||
| Santa Clara | 18:00 | SC Braga |
| Gil Vicente | 21:30 | Sporting Lisbon |
| December 23, 2024 | ||
| Vitoria Guimaraes | 19:45 | Nacional |
| Benfica | 19:45 | Estoril |
| Estrela | 21:45 | Rio Ave |
| December 27, 2024 | ||
| Arouca | 21:15 | Gil Vicente |
| December 28, 2024 | ||
| AVS | 16:30 | Estrela |
| Estoril | 19:00 | Moreirense |
| Porto | 21:30 | Boavista |
| December 29, 2024 | ||
| Rio Ave | 16:30 | Nacional |
| Farense | 16:30 | Vitoria Guimaraes |
| SC Braga | 19:00 | Casa Pia |
| Sporting Lisbon | 21:30 | Benfica |
| December 30, 2024 | ||
| Famalicão | 21:15 | Santa Clara |
| January 3, 2025 | ||
| Nacional | 19:00 | Porto |
| Vitoria Guimaraes | 21:15 | Sporting Lisbon |
| January 4, 2025 | ||
| Moreirense | 16:30 | AVS |
| Benfica | 19:00 | SC Braga |
| Boavista | 21:30 | Arouca |
Portugal Primeira Liga Table
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | G | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Porto | 15 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 36 | 9 | +27 | 37 |
| 2 | Sporting Lisbon | 14 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 43 | 10 | +33 | 36 |
| 3 | Benfica | 14 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 8 | +26 | 35 |
| 4 | Santa Clara | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 16 | 13 | +3 | 27 |
| 5 | SC Braga | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 25 | 16 | +9 | 25 |
| 6 | Vitoria Guimaraes | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 14 | +4 | 22 |
| 7 | Casa Pia | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 18 | -2 | 20 |
| 8 | Moreirense | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 19 | 22 | -3 | 20 |
| 9 | Famalicão | 15 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 18 | 17 | +1 | 19 |
| 10 | Gil Vicente | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 17 | 24 | -7 | 16 |
| 11 | Rio Ave | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 25 | -10 | 16 |
| 12 | Estoril | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 21 | -9 | 14 |
| 13 | AVS | 15 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 22 | -11 | 13 |
| 14 | Nacional | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 19 | -11 | 12 |
| 15 | Estrela | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 24 | -12 | 12 |
| 16 | Farense | 15 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 21 | -12 | 12 |
| 17 | Boavista | 15 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 19 | -9 | 12 |
| 18 | Arouca | 15 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 26 | -17 | 11 |
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