Rio Ave vs Nacional prediction, odds and how to watch

Sporting CP were ruthless and relentless at Rio Ave on Friday night, scoring four times in the first half to make the contest dead before the break. Luis Suárez grabbed two goals as Sporting showed exactly what they are about.

Santa Clara dismantled Rio Ave 4-0 in Liga Portugal, with goals from Brenner, Tiago Ribeiro, and Vinícius Lopes doing the damage in a performance that exposed every weakness Rio Ave have shown in recent weeks.

Sporting CP made it four wins from five Liga Portugal matches with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Nacional, who offered next to nothing going forward and were thoroughly outclassed from start to finish.

Rio Ave have shipped 11 goals in their last five Liga Portugal matches and Nacional have won just once in their last five. Something has to give on Sunday at 15:30 UK time.

Two sides sitting in the bottom half of Liga Portugal meet on Sunday with very little between them in the table, but the patterns in their respective form data tell a more revealing story about where this match could be decided.

Nacional have turned their home ground into a fortress this season, winning four of their last five there. Famalicão arrive with a momentum slope heading in the wrong direction and a serious question to answer about their ability to win away from home.

Nacional have built one of the most disciplined home records in Liga Portugal this season, but the real story on Sunday is just how badly Alverca have fallen apart on the road. This is a tactical matchup with a very clear shape to it.

Rio Ave have taken just two points from their last five home games, conceding ten in the process. Estrela Amadora arrive with problems of their own, but the numbers suggest this fixture is harder to read than the table positions imply.