Porto v Rio Ave: title charge meets survival fight | OneFootball

Porto host Rio Ave in Liga Portugal on Sunday, 22 February 2026 at Estádio Do Dragão, with the leaders aiming to strengthen top spot and the visitors chasing points to ease relegation pressure.

Porto have dominated this fixture, winning 14 of the previous meetings to Rio Ave's one, and took a 3-0 victory in September. At home the leaders have conceded only three league goals this season.

Form points the same way. Porto are unbeaten in their last two league games after a narrow defeat at Casa Pia, while Rio Ave arrive on a five-match losing run in the league, including heavy defeats to Braga and Nacional.

Farioli's side combine control and resilience: 43 scored, seven conceded and 16 clean sheets, with 56% possession and 84.92% pass accuracy this season. Samu Aghehowa is the standout threat with 13 league goals, supported by creators Alberto Costa and Gabri Veiga. For the visitors, Clayton has 10 league goals and four assists, while André Luiz has seven goals and five assists.

The match-up could tilt on Porto's delivery and organisation against a defence that has shipped 43 goals and kept two clean sheets. The hosts' 266 open-play crosses at 20.68% accuracy and six headed goals suggest a clear route to goal, while Rio Ave may look to maximise moments for their main finishers.

A win would move Porto to 62 points and could tighten their grip on the title race. Victory for Rio Ave would take them to 23 points and may lift them up the table, an important step in the relegation battle.