Rio Ave coach offers assurance on André Luiz before Benfica clash | OneFootball

Rio Ave head coach Sotiris Silaidopoulos has confirmed André Luiz will be in the squad to face Benfica and expects him to feature.

According to Glorioso 1904, the Greek said the Brazilian is motivated and focused, noting he was in a Rio Ave training shirt an hour earlier. The forward has attracted interest from Benfica and Olympiacos, the latter being his coach’s former club.

Silaidopoulos accepted the attention could be on the player’s mind, but stressed the group must remain centred on the team’s objectives.

Asked whether he might again leave André Luiz and Clayton out of the starting XI, he said the line-up would be known at kick-off.

That approach delivered a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture, when André Luiz scored the equaliser after the interval.

Kick-off is at 20:30 on Saturday, 17 January 2026, at Estádio do Rio Ave in Vila do Conde, in matchday 18 of the Liga Portugal Betclic 2025/26.

Source: Glorioso 1904