Rio Ave – Vitória SC

Rio Ave host Vitória SC in what promises to be a crucial clash for two teams fighting to climb out of the lower reaches of the table. The hosts sit 16th with just three points from five games, having managed only one win and a dismal –9 goal difference (2 scored, 11 conceded). Vitória SC sit three places higher in 13th, holding four points after a win and a draw but also a –3 goal difference (four for, seven against). Both sides will be desperate to turn their fortunes around, and the match could prove pivotal in the race to avoid the relegation zone. With Rio Ave needing a win to lift themselves off the bottom and Vitória looking to extend their modest lead, the stakes are high for this tightly contested encounter.