Liga NOS: X-ray of Rio Ave

Benfica meet Rio Ave again, this turn in Liga NOS. After the clash in the League Cup, where the eagles managed to get a 2-1 win, the new match is scheduled for next Sunday, at 5:30 pm, at Estádio da Luz.

After an auspicious beginning in Liga NOS, with several victories, the vila-condenses have lost five of the last seven matches, which resulted in eliminations from the Portuguese and League Cups and in a dropping of some places in Liga NOS.

The match against Benfica marks the debut of Daniel Ramos on the substitutes’ bench. The coach returns to activity, (after a first period in Chaves) this turn in Vila do Conde. He is the second team’s coach in 2018/19, after the José Gomes’ transfer to England, to coach Reading.

Top 5 scorers (all competitions)

PLAYER	GOALS
Vinícius	14
Galeno	7
Gelson Dala	6
João Schmidt	4
Gabrielzinho	3

Since the match against the red in the League Cup, in September, Rio Ave played 16 matches. They won five, drew four and lost seven. They scored 33 goals and conceded 30. In the season total, they have played 24 matches, won in eight, drew six and lost in 10 of them. Even so, the goal difference in positive: 46 scored against 42 conceded.

Usually, the team from the North plays in 4x3x3, with two wide open wingers and a powerful forward (Vinícius). In the last match, in matchday 15 of the Liga NOS, Augusto Gama, the caretaker, chose the following starting lineup, with several names (highlighted in bold) that joined the club at the start of the season: Léo Jardim; Nadjack, Nélson Monte, Buatu, Matheus Reis; Jambor, João Schmidt, Fábio Coentrão; Gabrielzinho, Galeno and Vinícius.

Top 5 assists (all competitions)

PLAYERS	ASSISTS
Galeno	8
Gelson Dala	6
Diego Lopes	3
Fábio Coentrão	2
Matheus Reis	2

The starting XI, with the most used players in 2018/19, is also set around a 4x3x3 formation: Léo Jardim; Nadjack, Buatu, Borevkovic, Matheus Reis; Tarantini, João Schmidt, Fábio Coentrão; Galeno, Gabrielzinho and Vinícius.