Updated 6 November 2026.
Rio Ave host Sporting Braga at the Estádio do Rio Ave Futebol Clube on Sunday 8 November, with kick-off at 20:30 UK time in the Liga Portugal. Rio Ave have conceded 23 goals in ten league matches and Braga 11. In the table, Rio Ave sit 16th of 18 on 7 points and Braga are 8th on 14.
Rio Ave have won twice in the league and lost seven of their ten. Braga have won four, drawn two and lost four. We make Braga clear favourites, with a 59% chance of winning against 16% for Rio Ave.
Rio Ave's problem is at the back. They concede 2.3 goals a game, the most in the division, and they have kept a clean sheet in only 10% of their matches. The latest damage came in back-to-back defeats: a 0-4 home loss to Famalicão on 25 October, then a 2-1 defeat at Ac. Viseu a week later. Before that came a 3-2 home win over Nacional on 11 October, and a 3-3 draw with Estrela in mid-September shows they can score, but they average 0.9 goals a game, the 5th fewest, and have the 5th fewest shots on target at 3.2 per match.
Braga are steadier at the back. They concede 1.1 goals a game, the 7th fewest, and have kept a clean sheet in 40% of their games, the 6th highest rate. Their last league outing was a 3-0 home win over Famalicão, the same side that put four past Rio Ave, and it came after a 1-0 defeat at Nacional and a 1-2 home loss to Gil Vicente. In the Europa Conference League they beat Gent 2-0 and then drew 0-0 at AGF on Thursday.
Braga also create more. They average 4.2 shots on target a game, the 6th most in the league, and our projection has them at 5.10 here against 3.02 for Rio Ave. In the league table Braga are eight places and seven points ahead.
Rio Ave possible starting lineup:
Van Der Gouw; José Carlos, João Tomé, Mancha, Vrousai; Liavas, PatrÃcio; Bezerra, Clemmensen, Nascimento; Blesa
Sporting Braga possible starting lineup:
Bernardo; VÃctor Gómez, Barisic, Barcia; VÃtor Carvalho, Moutinho, Travassos; Dorgeles, Gabri MartÃnez, Horta; Fran Navarro
Ricardo Horta has had a shot in seven straight league games, averaging 2.0 a game, and the winger is in our possible starting lineup. VÃctor Gómez has had a shot in four straight games from right-back, averaging 1.5, and is 1.36 at bet365 to have one.
For Rio Ave, Diogo Bezerra has had a shot in six straight games, averaging 1.8, and he is 1.29 at bet365. Georgios Liavas has made at least one tackle in eight straight games, averaging 1.9 a game.
We back Sporting Braga to win, and the bookmakers agree: Braga are 1.55 at Ladbrokes, with Rio Ave 6.00 and the draw 4.20 at bet365. Our model gives Braga a 59% chance, the draw 25% and Rio Ave 16%.
| Market | Best price | Statz chance |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Ave win | 6.00 (bet365) | 16% |
| Draw | 4.20 (bet365) | 25% |
| Braga win | 1.55 (Ladbrokes) | 59% |
| Both teams to score | 1.91 (bet365) | 47% |
| Over 1.5 goals | 1.25 (bet365) | 74% |
| Over 2.5 goals | 1.80 (bet365) | 48% |
We predict a 0-1 win for Braga, which is the likeliest single scoreline at 12%. A 1-1 draw is close behind at 12% and is in play, and 0-2 follows on the same figure. Braga are projected to score 1.77 goals against 0.81 for Rio Ave, and we give the visitors a 44% chance of a clean sheet.
In the goals markets, we make over 1.5 a 74% chance and over 2.5 just under a coin flip at 48%. Horta and Gómez arrive on shot runs against the division's leakiest defence.
Rio Ave vs Sporting Braga in the 2026/27 Liga Portugal kicks off at 20:30 UK time on Sunday 8 November 2026 at the Estádio do Rio Ave Futebol Clube, with Rio Ave 16th of 18 in the table and our model giving Braga a 59% chance of winning.
Our prediction for Rio Ave vs Sporting Braga in the 2026/27 Liga Portugal is a 0-1 away win, the likeliest single scoreline at 12%, though a 1-1 draw at 12% is also in play. We give Braga a 59% chance of winning, the draw 25% and Rio Ave 16%.
Sporting Braga are favourites against Rio Ave in the 2026/27 Liga Portugal on Sunday 8 November, with our model giving them a 59% chance of winning, the draw 25% and Rio Ave 16%, and Ladbrokes offering 1.55 on a Braga win.
Our model gives both teams to score in Rio Ave vs Sporting Braga a 47% chance in the 2026/27 Liga Portugal, with over 2.5 goals at 48% and bet365 offering 1.91 on both teams to score. Rio Ave have conceded 23 goals in 10 league games.
Before Rio Ave vs Sporting Braga in the 2026/27 Liga Portugal, Rio Ave are 16th of 18 with 7 points from 10 games, while Sporting Braga are 8th with 14 points from 10 games, a gap of eight places and seven points.
Ricardo Horta has had a shot in 7 straight 2026/27 Liga Portugal games for Sporting Braga, averaging 2.0 a game, and he is in our possible starting lineup for the trip to Rio Ave on Sunday 8 November 2026.
Predicted lineups for Rio Ave vs Braga in the 2026/27 Liga Portugal on Sunday 8 November 2026: Rio Ave may start Van Der Gouw; José Carlos, João Tomé, Mancha, Vrousai; Liavas, PatrÃcio; Bezerra, Clemmensen, Nascimento; Blesa. Sporting Braga may start Bernardo; VÃctor Gómez, Barisic, Barcia; VÃtor Carvalho, Moutinho, Travassos; Dorgeles, Gabri MartÃnez, Horta; Fran Navarro.