Benfica-Rio Ave: the 24th encounter at Estádio da Luz

Benfica and Rio Ave will meet at Estádio da Luz for the 24^th time in the National Championship. In the 23 previous matches, the team from Vila do Conde never won and only managed to get four draws, that last of which was in 2005/06, when Ronald Koeman and João Eusébio were the coaches.

Since then, nine matches for the Portuguese league, nine benfiquistas triumphs, some with a rout. This is already Benfica's winning streak against Rio Ave for the Championship, but a triumph from Rui Vitória's men will allow the team to reach the 10 consecutive win at Luz.

CARDOZO WITH ACCURATE SHOOTING

In matches for the Championship, at Estádio da Luz, against Rio Ave, the Paraguayan forward– the Club's best foreign goal scorer – was the player with more accuracy. The former number 7 jersey scored five goals in six matches, in front of Reinaldo (four goals in two matches) and Nené (four goals in four matches). The two most emblematic goals from Tacuara happened in 2009/10 when his brace confirmed the 32nd National League Title.

Between Cardozo's contemporaries, highlight for the three goals scored against Rio Ave by Simão, Saviola, Lima and Nuno Gomes.

This Saturday's match (6:15 pm) will be the third between the two emblems in the current season and the tickets are already on sale. The two previous encounters took place at Estádio dos Arcos, one for Liga NOS and the other for the Portuguese Cup.

MATCHES BETWEEN BENFICA AND RIO AVE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP AT LUZ

Season	Result	Scorers
2016/17	2-0 W	Mitroglou and Pizzi
2015/16	3-1 W	Jonas (2) and Raúl Jiménez; Bressan
2014/15	1-0 W	Talisca
2013/14	4-0 W	Cardozo (2), Rodrigo and Gaitán
2012/13	6-1 W	Lima (3), Melgarejo, Matic and Enzo Perez; Tarantini
2011/12	5-1 W	Nolito (2), Cardozo, Saviola and Garay; Atsu
2010/11	5-2 W	Saviola (2), Salvio (2) and Pablo Aimar; João Tomás (2)
2009/10	2-1 W	Cardozo (2); Ricardo Chaves
2008/09	1-0 W	Mantorras
2005/06	2-2 D	Petit (2); Cleiton and Chidi
2004/05	3-3 D	Simão (2) and Sokota; Franco, Paulo César and Jacques
2003/04	2-0 W	Simão and Cristiano
1999/00	1-0 W	Nuno Gomes
1998/99	3-1 W	Nuno Gomes, Cadete and Pepa; Jacaré
1997/98	2-1 W	Sánchez and Nuno Gomes; Marcos
1996/97	0-0 D	-
1987/88	2-0 W	Carlos Manuel and Magnusson
1986/87	3-1 W	Dito, Chiquinho and Rui Águas; Hernâni
1984/85	2-0 W	Wando and Diamantino
1983/84	1-0 W	Filipovic
1982/83	0-0 D	-
1981/82	3-0 W	Carlos Manuel, Reinaldo and Nené
1979/80	8-0 W	Reinaldo (3), Nené (3) and Humberto Coelho (2)