Rio Ave v AVS: mid-table push meets survival fight | OneFootball

Rio Ave host AVS in Liga Portugal on Friday, 17 April 2026 at Estádio do Rio Ave Futebol Clube, with the hosts eyeing a climb up the table and the bottom side battling to keep their survival hopes alive.

Rio Ave are 11th on 33 points and won the reverse fixture 2-1 in December. AVS sit 18th with 12 points and remain in the relegation places.

Form favours the hosts. Rio Ave have four wins in five, including a 2-0 victory at Santa Clara last time out. AVS are winless in five, drawing three of those, and were beaten 3-0 at Gil Vicente earlier this month.

Sotiris Silaidopoulos' side may look to control phases through cleaner passing, with 82.23% accuracy and 46% possession this season. Clayton leads their league scoring on 10 goals, while André Luiz adds threat with seven goals and five assists. João Henriques' team have struggled in both boxes, scoring 19 and conceding 62, but they do deliver frequent crosses from open play with 21.81% accuracy and could look to wide service.

A home win would lift Rio Ave to 36 points and could nudge them closer to the top half. AVS would move to 15 points with victory or 13 with a draw, results that may cut the gap but would still leave them fighting against the drop.