Sporting vs Rio Ave Prediction, Betting Tips, Lineups & Odds | 28 Dec 2025

Primeira Liga Betting Preview: Sporting vs Rio Ave

Second-placed Sporting clash with Rio Ave at Estadio Jose Alvalade, with kick-off set for 15:30 on Sunday 28 December.

We’re going for Sporting -2.25 in the expectation that the favourites win by three clear goals on the Asian Handicap. A two goal winning margin will see half our stake returned at odds of -108 against Rio Ave.

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Sporting CP have enjoyed three Primeira Liga home victories on the spin. Their last win was a 4-1 road success at Estadio D. Afonso Henriques against Vitória de Guimarães. Rui Borges' side enjoyed 57% possession and managed six shots on target, while Trincao, Fotis Ioannidis, Juan Diego Castillo (own goal) and Maximiliano Araujo bagged a goal.

Rio Ave played Gil Vicente away from home in their previous game. It was a 2-2 draw at Municipal de Barcelos. The Vila do Conde club had 46% possession and two shots on goal, with Andre Luiz and Antonio Espigares (own goal) on the scoresheet.

Head-to-Head Statistics

Sporting have claimed victories in the last two clashes against Rio Ave. On their travels, a 3-0 win was secured at Estadio dos Arcos and that was preceded by a 3-1 home success at Estadio Jose Alvalade. We’ve seen the past 10 H2H matches feature six Sporting wins, three draws and one Rio Ave triumph.

Primeira Liga		G	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	GD	P
2	Sporting	21	16	4	1	55	12	43	55:12	52
15	Rio Ave	21	4	8	9	22	41	-19	22:41	20

View Full Table

Sporting have 8 wins and 2 draws, averaging 2.7 goals from 7.7 shots on goal and 18.1 attempts. The Lions have averaged 62.1% possession, 552.4 passes and 6.7 corners per game, with the opposition getting 0.4 goals from 2.8 shots on goal, 8.1 attempts and 2.3 corners.

Luis Suarez is the top scorer with 8 goals, Pedro Goncalves has 5, with Fotis Ioannidis and Maximiliano Araujo on 3. Trincao is the leading assists maker on 4, with goalies Rui Silva and Joao Virginia collectively keeping 6 clean sheets.

Rio Ave have won 3, lost 2 and drawn 5, with an average of 3.5 shots on goal, 7.7 attempts and 1.2 goals. Sotiris Sylaidopoulos' team average 45.5% possession, 367.3 passes, 4.1 corners taken and 7.2 corners against them, while 1.2 goals have been conceded from 15.6 attempts and 4.6 shots on goal.

Clayton is top of the team’s scoring charts with 5, Andre Luiz has 4, with Marios Vrousai and Dario Spikic both on 1. Andre Luiz has had 2 assists, with Cezary Miszta notching 2 clean sheets in the previous 10 games.

Confirmed Lineups

Sporting confirmed lineup (4-4-2): Rui Silva (GK), Georgios Vagiannidis, Eduardo Quaresma, Goncalo Inacio, Ricardo Mangas, Trincao, Morten Hjulmand, Joao Simoes, Maximiliano Araujo, Fotis Ioannidis, Luis Suarez.

Rio Ave confirmed lineup (3-4-3): Cezary Miszta (GK), Francisco Petrasso, Jakub Brabec, Nelson Abbey, Joao Tome, Andreas-Richardos Ntoi, Giorgos Liavas, Nikolaos Athanasiou, Ole Pohlmann, Karem Zoabi, Dario Spikic.

Sporting vs Rio Ave Prediction & Betting Tips

We cover the key Sporting vs Rio Ave betting angles, showcasing our expert match prediction, best corners pick, correct score selection, top player props and a bet builder tailored for value.

Match Prediction

We think Sporting will land a sizeable win for this Primeira Liga match. The favourites could have too much for their opponents and we’ll take the odds of -108 that they overcome a -2.25 handicap.

The Primeira Liga form is always taken into consideration and it’s great to combine this with team news as it becomes available. In order to provide expert football betting tips, the latest stats are analysed so that we have the best information.

Key Sporting vs Rio Ave league stats:

• The -2.25 line has been covered by Sporting in 3 of their last 5 games.
• The -2.25 line has been covered by Sporting in 2 consecutive games.

If you go by the top bookies, there’s a 51.8% likelihood of our pick winning. Our tipsters think there’s a stronger chance of success and calculate the probability to be closer to 60%. This is why we can recommend this wager.

If you’re hunting for bigger odds and feel confident your pick is going to perform well, then consider moving the line and land a bigger potential return.

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Our Match Prediction

Sporting Asian Hcp -2.25 @ -108 Bet Now

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Disclosure: This preview contains affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. T&Cs apply. We only recommend licensed and regulated operators. See our Editorial Policy. Pick odds and lines reflect the price available at the time of publication (21:37, 26 December 2025). Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.

Correct Score Prediction

Sporting 3 - 0 Rio Ave

There could be merit in backing Sporting to win 3-0. Odds of +440 are available about a correct score bet where a nice potential return is on the cards.

Player Prop Picks

Top Pick: Luis Javier Suárez To Score -161

Luis Javier Suárez (Sporting) can be wagered at -161 to be among the goals. Using all evidence, we are happy to back him to find the net on the Anytime Goalscorer market.

Latest Luis Javier Suárez Player Prop Odds

Goalscorer

Anytime

-213

First

+170

Pick odds and lines correct at publication. Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. T&Cs apply. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.

Corners Prediction

Under 10.5 Corners -133

It has now been eight consecutive Sporting home games where the 10.5 Total Corners line has not been covered. There’s the opportunity to go under the Total Corners line and we’re expecting this to happen, with odds of -133 on offer.

League Games

League Games

Last 10 Total For Against

Last 10 at Home Total For Against

Last 10 Away Total For Against

Sporting

Total

9.00 6.70 2.30

Home

8.10 6.10 2.00

Away

10.10 7.00 3.10

Rio Ave

Total

11.30 4.10 7.20

Home

10.00 3.90 6.10

Away

11.10 3.90 7.20

Latest Corner Odds

Total Corners

Over 9.5

-135

Under 9.5

-108

Sporting Corners

Over 7.5

-141

Under 7.5

-100

Rio Ave Corners

Over 1.5

-125

Under 1.5

-114

Most Corners

1

-2500

X

+1600

2

+1300

Pick odds and lines correct at publication. Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. T&Cs apply. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.

Sporting vs Rio Ave Odds

The odds and lines below are updated regularly and may differ from the prices shown in our picks, which are captured at the time of publication.

The available betting odds afford Sporting CP a 89% probability of triumphing in this Primeira Liga clash. This is reflected in that they’re massive -833 favourites to succeed with the bookmakers. Rio Ave are the +1600 rank outsiders, with the draw being a different option which could yield dividends.

There’s a nice alternative in the form of the Half-Time Result market. This allows you to back Sporting at -222 to lead at the break or alternatively opt for Rio Ave at +950. The draw is the third option at +230.

The lowest odds can be found for Over 2.5 Goals, which means at least three goals being netted. Both Teams to Score No is chalked up at -200 for anyone predicting one side or more to fail to find the net.

The recommended football betting sites will provide a first-class service and that includes getting hundreds of markets. Scan through them for any Primeira Liga match and take your pick.

Full-Time Result

1

-833

X

+700

2

+1600

Half-Time Result

1

-222

X

+230

2

+950

Double Chance

1X

-5000

12

-1667

X2

+390

Draw No Bet

1

-3333

2

+1100

Asian Handicap

1 Hcp -2.25

-122

2 Hcp +2.25

-116

Total Goals

Under 2.5

+163

Over 2.5

-244

Both Teams to Score

Yes

+138

No

-200

The First Goalscorer favourite is Luis Javier Suárez at +170. Similar odds can be found if you’re interested in this player to register the last goal.

Luis Javier Suárez (Sporting)

First

-213

Anytime

+170

Pedro Goncalves (Sporting)

First

+133

Anytime

+380

Fotis Ioannidis (Sporting)

First

+155

Anytime

+450

Francisco Trincão (Sporting)

First

+163

Anytime

+450

Rafael Nel (Sporting)

First

+180

Anytime

+475

Rodrigo Ribeiro (Sporting)

First

+188

Anytime

+550

Geny Catamo (Sporting)

First

+250

Anytime

+700

Giorgi Kochorashvili (Sporting)

First

+340

Anytime

+950

Geovany Quenda (Sporting)

First

+350

Anytime

+900

João António Nascimento Muniz (Sporting)

First

+390

Anytime

+1050

Clayton Fernandes Silva (Rio Ave)

First

+400

Anytime

+1000

Maximiliano Araujo (Sporting)

First

+400

Anytime

+1000

Ricardo Mangas (Sporting)

First

+425

Anytime

+1100

Morten Hjulmand (Sporting)

First

+450

Anytime

+1200

Nuno Santos (Sporting)

First

+480

Anytime

+1200

Daniel Bragança (Sporting)

First

+500

Anytime

+1200

Marc Gual (Rio Ave)

First

+575

Anytime

+1300

Eduardo Quaresma (Sporting)

First

+575

Anytime

+1500

Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting)

First

+575

Anytime

+1600

Matheus Reis (Sporting)

First

+575

Anytime

+1700

Hidemasa Morita (Sporting)

First

+600

Anytime

+1600

Zeno Debast (Sporting)

First

+600

Anytime

+1700

Ousmane Diomande (Sporting)

First

+600

Anytime

+1700

Georgios Vagiannidis (Sporting)

First

+600

Anytime

+1800

Jeremiah St. Juste (Sporting)

First

+600

Anytime

+1800

Karem Zoabi (Rio Ave)

First

+650

Anytime

+1600

André Luiz (Rio Ave)

First

+650

Anytime

+1700

Tobias Medina (Rio Ave)

First

+750

Anytime

+1800

Sporting have clocked up five straight wins at Estadio Jose Alvalade. Rui Borges' side have racked up eight victories, one draw and one defeat in the previous 10 home games, netting an average of 3.20 goals per match and conceding 0.50.

Rio Ave have not tasted an away defeat in six straight matches. The Vila do Conde club have clocked up six draws, two victories and two defeats in the past 10 away games, recording an average of 1.50 goals per match and conceding 1.80.

In the last meeting at Estadio Jose Alvalade, Sporting defeated Rio Ave by a 3-1 scoreline. The previous 5 H2H meetings at Estadio Jose Alvalade have involved three Sporting triumphs, one Rio Ave win and one draw.

Last 10 League Games		W-D-L	G	GF	GA	O2.5	U2.5	B-Y	B-No
Sporting Home Stats		8-1-1	3.70	3.20	0.50	8	2	4	6
Rio Ave Away Stats		2-6-2	3.30	1.50	1.80	7	3	8	2

• W-D-L = Wins-Draws-Losses
• G = Avg. Goals
• GF = Avg. Goals For
• GA = Avg. Goals Against
• O2.5 = Matches Over 2.5 Goals
• U2.5 = Matches Under 2.5 Goals
• B-Y = Matches BTTS Yes
• B-No = Matches BTTS No

Sporting vs Rio Ave Lineups & Team News

Stay ahead of the game by checking the Sporting vs Rio Ave team news before betting. We’ll have the predicted and confirmed Primeira Liga lineups for you plus all the latest on player injuries.

Sporting CP Team Page Rio Ave Team Page

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