Casa Pia v Rio Ave: survival fight meets consolidation bid | OneFootball

Casa Pia host Rio Ave in Liga Portugal on Saturday, 16 May 2026 at the Estádio Municipal de Rio Maior, with the hosts starting in the relegation play-offs and the visitors in 13th aiming to finish clear of danger.

Rio Ave won the reverse fixture 3-1 in January, and both sides arrive with work to do at opposite ends of the bottom half. Casa Pia sit 16th on 29 points, while Rio Ave have 35.

Recent form is mixed. Casa Pia have one win in five, but that came last time out with a 1-0 success at Vitória S.C. Rio Ave have one win in five as well, following a goalless draw against Gil Vicente with a 4-1 defeat by Sporting CP.

Season numbers hint at contrasting approaches. Rio Ave tend to keep the ball more, averaging 46% possession with 82.05% passing accuracy, while Casa Pia average 41% possession and 73.53% accuracy. Both have conceded 56 league goals, so defensive discipline could decide the game. In attack, Clayton leads Rio Ave with 10 league goals, supported by André Luiz on seven goals and five assists, while Casa Pia look to Cassiano's six goals and Jeremy Livolant's eight assists.

Set pieces and deliveries may matter. Casa Pia have produced 352 open-play crosses at 19.89% accuracy and scored six headers, with Rio Ave on 306 crosses and five headed goals. Box discipline is another lever, as Casa Pia have conceded 12 penalties compared with Rio Ave's three.

A win would take Casa Pia to 32 points and could lift them out of the relegation play-offs. Victory for Rio Ave would move them to 38 points and may nudge them further from the drop, consolidating a mid-table finish.