Sporting Lisbon vs Rio Ave prediction, odds & betting tips – 28/12/2025

The action continues in round 19 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga as Sporting Lisbon and Rio Ave go head-to-head at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Sunday. While the Vilacondenses could move into the top half of the table here, the home side will be aiming to move within two points of rivals Porto at the top of the league table.

FootballWhispers’ Sporting Lisbon vs Rio Ave prediction takes a look at the chances of both sides coming away with the desired result this weekend.

Sporting Lisbon vs Rio Ave prediction: Leoes to extend hot streak

Key stats

• Sporting Lisbon are on a run of three consecutive victories in all competitions and are unbeaten in their last 11 Primeira Liga games, claiming nine wins and two draws since August’s 2-1 loss against Porto.
• Rio Ave are unbeaten in their last six Primeira Liga away matches, picking up two wins and four draws since a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Moreirense on September 13.
• Sporting Lisbon have won each of their last seven home games across all competitions, scoring 25 goals and keeping five clean sheets since a goalless draw against Braga on October 5.
• The Leoes have opened the scoring in nine of their last 10 games against Rio Ave, with four of their most recent five encounters seeing at least three goals scored.

Correct score prediction: Sporting Lisbon 3-1 Rio Ave

The last six meetings between Sporting Lisbon and Rio Ave have produced a combined 20 goals and we anticipate another action-packed contest with plenty of goalmouth action this weekend.

While the Vilacondenses have struggled for consistent results, Sporting Lisbon are currently firing on all cylinders in the league as they continue their pursuit of Porto, and we are backing them to extend their winning streak at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Pre-game odds and win probability: Sporting tipped to make light work of the Vilacondenses

• HOME: 1/6 (1.17) – 85.7%
• DRAW: 15/2 (8.50) – 11.8%
• AWAY: 12/1 (13.00) – 7.7%

*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change

With an 85.7% win probability, the bookies have Sporting Lisbon down as clear favourites to come out on top at the Estadio Jose Alvalade this weekend, priced at 1/6.

While Rio Ave will look to secure their first win in this fixture in over six years, they stand a 7.7% chance of doing that, while there is an 11.8% chance of the game ending all square.

While we take a deeper look into both teams, you can take a peek at some of the best picks and predictions for this weekend’s fixtures by FootballWhispers in today’s free football betting tips.

Most recent H2Hs: Sporting Lisbon exerting dominance

Sporting Lisbon holds a clear upper hand in this fixture across their most recent 10 encounters, having picked up nine wins and one draw since May 2021.

Rio Ave’s last victory over the Leoes came back in September 2019, when goals in either half from Ronan and Lucas Piazon fired them to a 2-1 victory at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Sporting Lisbon head into Sunday’s game on a run of four consecutive victories over Rio Ave, including a 2-1 Taca de Portugal win in their most recent encounter back in April.

Portugal Cup 22/04/25

Rio Ave

1

Sporting

2

Portugal Cup 03/04/25

Sporting

2

Rio Ave

0

Portugal Primeira Liga 18/01/25

Rio Ave

0

Sporting

3

Portugal Primeira Liga 09/08/24

Sporting

3

Rio Ave

1

Portugal Primeira Liga 25/02/24

Rio Ave

3

Sporting

3

Sporting Lisbon preview: Aiming to move within touching distance of Porto

Sporting Lisbon continued their hot pursuit of Primeira Liga leaders Porto on Tuesday when they cruised to a 4-1 victory over Vitoria de Guimaraes at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques.

Nelson Oliveira’s second-half red card gave the visitors a numerical advantage, as strikes from Francisco Trincao, Fotis Ioannidis, Maximiliano Araujo and an own goal from goalkeeper Juan Castillo saw them secure a comfortable victory.

Having lost 3-1 to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on December 9, Sporting Lisbon have bounced back with three wins on the spin, including a 3-2 extra-time victory over Santa Clara in the Taca de Portugal fifth round on December 18.

Rui Borges’s men have won 12 of their 15 Primeira Liga matches so far while losing once and claiming two draws to collect 38 points and sit second in the table, five points off first-placed Porto.

Predicted lineup: Silva (GK), Vagiannidis, Inacio, Quaresma, Araujo, Hjulmand, Simoes, Santos, Trincao, Kochorashvili & Suarez

Last five games

• Vitoria de Guimaraes 1-4 Sporting Lisbon
• Santa Clara 2-3 Sporting Lisbon
• Sporting Lisbon 6-0 AVS
• Bayern Munich 3-1 Sporting Lisbon
• Benfica 1-1 Sporting Lisbon

Rio Ave preview: The Vilacondenses continue to blow hot and cold

Rio Ave’s improvements have been undeniably evident over the course of the season, but a lack of consistency has seen them fail to settle in the top half of the Primeira Liga table.

Sotiris Sylaidopoulos’s men were left spitting feathers last Saturday, when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Gil Vicente after conceding a gut-wrenching equaliser in the 10th minute of stoppage time.

Though Rio Ave dropped two more points last weekend, they are now unbeaten in eight of their last 10 Primeira Liga outings, picking up three wins and five draws after failing to win their first seven games of the campaign.

The Vilacondenses have picked up 17 points from their 15 league matches so far to sit 10th in the standings, level on points with ninth-placed Estoril Praia and 11th-placed Alverca.

Predicted lineup: Miszta (GK), Petrasso, Panzo, Brabec, Tome, Aguilera, Ntoi, Athanasiou, Luiz, Zoabi & Pohlmann

Last five games

• Gil Vicente 2-2 Rio Ave
• Rio Ave 0-1 Vitoria de Guimaraes
• AVS 1-2 Rio Ave
• Rio Ave 1-1 Santa Clara
• Alverca 1-1 Rio Ave

Player to watch — Luis Javier Suarez

Suarez has been a standout performer for Sporting Lisbon this season, and the 28-year-old, who joined from Almeria last summer, will be one to keep an eye on this weekend.

Having netted three goals in the previous three matches, the Colombian striker drew a blank against Vitoria de Guimaraes last time out, and should spearhead the Leoes’ attack, teaming up with Ioannidis and Trincao in the front three.

Suarez, who sits second in the Primeira Liga scoring chart with 11 goals, boasts 21 goal involvements for club and country this season, scoring 19 times and setting up three more across all competitions.