As two of Portugal’s Liga Portugal teams, Pacos de Ferreira and Rio Ave have had a long and storied rivalry over the years. The upcoming match between them on the 21st of May in 2023 promises to be another exciting chapter in this history.

History of the Rivalry

Pacos de Ferreira and Rio Ave have met six times previously, with both teams fighting for every inch of the pitch in each of these encounters. Their very first meeting took place in 2020, with Rio Ave emerging victorious with a score of 2-3. Since then, there have been a few draws, with a thrilling 0-1 victory for Pacos de Ferreira in January 2023.


Their memorable moments are the stuff of legends. Among the unforgettable matches is the one from 2021. It was a tight game between the two teams, with Rio Ave taking the lead first, and Pacos de Ferreira fighting back to equalize. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. Another memorable match was in 2022, where they played a friendly game, which ended in a goalless draw.

Team Analysis

Currently, Rio Ave is in 12th place, with no win or draw streak to speak of. Meanwhile, Pacos de Ferreira is in 17th place, with the same record. From their last five games, Pacos de Ferreira has failed to score in two, while Rio Ave has lost its last two games.

Strengths and Weaknesses Analysis

In terms of the capabilities, Pacos de Ferreira is very good at shooting from direct free kicks, while they struggle to finish their opportunities. They also have a weakness when it comes to defending against attacks down the wings and skillful players. As for Rio Ave, their strength lies in their ability to create chances using through balls. Defending against through ball attacks, aerial duels, and defending against skillful players are its main weaknesses.

Prediction and Score

Based on the facts presented, this match promises to be a highly competitive and thrilling contest, with each team fighting for every point. Rio Ave, with their consistent first eleven and playing style of attacking down the right, may have the edge over Pacos de Ferreira. However, Pacos de Ferreira could potentially capitalize on their strength of shooting from direct free kicks.


Ultimately, we predict a closely fought encounter with a scoreline of Rio Ave 2-1 Pacos de Ferreira.