Rio Ave v Estrela Amadora: bottom-half rivals eye breathing space | OneFootball

Rio Ave host Estrela Amadora in Liga Portugal on Sunday, 15 March 2026 at Estádio do Rio Ave Futebol Clube, with one point between them and both seeking daylight from the relegation places.

Rio Ave took the reverse fixture in October with a 2-1 away win. The hosts arrive off a timely 1-0 success at Tondela after a goalless draw with Famalicão, stabilising a run that had featured three straight defeats. Estrela Amadora are unbeaten in two after draws with AVS and Gil Vicente, following back-to-back losses.

Season trends hint at contrasting routes. Estrela Amadora deliver a high volume of crosses with strong accuracy at 23.84% and have scored four headed goals, so deliveries from wide could be a key outlet. Rio Ave have netted only two headers and just one set-piece goal, but they may look to test discipline in the box given the visitors have conceded nine penalties, even if the hosts have converted only half of their four spot kicks.

Goalscoring threats are clear. For Rio Ave, Clayton leads the way with 10 Liga goals, supported by André Luiz on seven with five assists. For Estrela Amadora, Kikas has six league goals and Jovane Borges has added five.

In the table picture, a home win would lift Rio Ave to 27 points and could move them above Estrela Amadora while pushing them further from the bottom three. Victory for the visitors would take them to 28 points and strengthen their cushion above the relegation places.