Rio Ave and Santa Clara are separated by five places in the Primeira Liga table heading into Friday's gameweek 30 clash at Estadio dos Arcos.

The home side snapped a four-match losing run in the Liga last time out at Moreirense and aim to claim back-to-back league victories against an away side on a two-match losing streak.

Having gone unbeaten on home soil until the new year, Rio Ave have now lost 50% of their six matches in front of their fans since the start of 2025.

Although Santa Clara have secured two victories in six in 2025, the hosts' possible focus on next week's domestic cup semi-final second leg, combined with the away side's ambition to leapfrog Vitoria Guimaraes, could see Matos's side clinch a narrow victory in Vila do Conde.

Friday's Primeira Liga action pits second-bottom SC Farense against bottom-placed Boavista in the gameweek 30 clash at Estadio de Sao Luis.

A victory for the hosts in this crucial relegation match could lift them out of the dreaded automatic relegation spots, while the visitors, under new management, hope to level the playing field by defeating their opponents for the first time since 2002.