Sporting CP vs Rio Ave Lineups, Predictions & Betting Tips

Sporting CP vs Rio Ave Lineups, Predictions & Betting Tips

December 28, 2025 | Estadio Jose Alvalade | Liga Portugal | 20:30 GMT

Sporting and Rio Ave face off in this Liga Portugal clash, with Sporting looking to keep the pressure on the seemingly indomitable Porto, who have only dropped two points all season, and Rio Ave looking to lift themselves from midtable obscurity and begin putting pressure on those above them.

Key Betting Tips: Sporting win @ 1.14

Sporting CP vs Rio Ave Predicted Lineups

Sporting CP Predicted Lineup: Silva, Fresneda, Quaresma, Inacio, Mangas, Simeos, Hjulmand, Trincao, Ioannidis, Araujo, Suarez

Rio Ave Predicted Lineup: Miszta, Petrasso, Brabec, Panzo, Tome, Ntoi, Aguilera, Athanasiou, Luiz, Clayton, Pohlmann

Sporting CP vs Rio Ave Current Form and Standings

Sporting currently sit in 2nd place in Liga Portugal with just one loss to their name thus far and 38 points on the board. They have only lost one game in their last 16, which was a defeat to Bayern in the Champions League, but have been perfect otherwise in their pursuit of Porto.

Rio Ave currently sit down in 10th place in Liga Portugal, with 17 points from their 15 games thus far. The main issue has been their inability to turn draws into wins, with eight games this season ending in that outcome, including three of their last five.

Sporting CP vs Rio Ave Head-to-Head Timeline

22.04.25 Rio Ave 1-2 Sporting

03.04.25 Sporting 2-0 Rio Ave

18.01.25 Rio Ave 0-3 Sporting

09.08.24 Sporting 3-1 Rio Ave

25.02.24 Rio Ave 3-3 Sporting

Sporting CP Last 5 Matches

Benfica 1-1 Sporting

Bayern 3-1 Sporting

Sporting 6-0 AVS

Santa Clara 2-3 Sporting

Vitoria 1-4 Sporting

Rio Ave Last 5 Matches

Alverca 1-1 Rio Ave

Rio Ave 1-1 Santa Clara

AVS 1-2 Rio Ave

Rio Ave 0-1 Vitoria

Gil Vicente 2-2 Rio Ave

Sporting CP vs Rio Ave Predictions

Our advanced algorithm analyses 200 data points to generate these predictions with a 60.70% confidence in a Sporting win. The model factors in current form, head-to-head records, player availability, and tactical matchups.

Sporting CP vs Rio Ave Betting Tips

Football Park's Best Bet: Sporting win @ 1.14 – Our team of in-house tipsters has predicted a Sporting win. It is difficult to see a world where Sporting don't come out on top in this home game with their superior form and the relative mediocrity of Rio Ave this season.

Key Players to Watch: Sporting CP vs Rio Ave

Luis Suarez (Sporting): Suarez has been in fine form since replacing Gyokeres at Sporting and has 15 goals in 25 games so far this season, including a mightily impressive record of 11 in 15 in the league.

Clayton (Rio Ave): Clayton has undoubtedly been the standout for Rio Ave this season and has almost matched the tally of the aforementioned Suarez in a significantly worse side with 10 goals from 15 games thus far.

Sporting CP vs Rio Ave Match Facts

• Broadcast Details: N/A
• Referee: Carlos Macedo

Stadium Information: The Estadio Jose Alvalade is home to Sporting and has a capacity of 52,095.