Sporting CP vs Rio Ave FC: form, goals and key statistics

Key match information

Sporting CP played Rio Ave FC in Liga NOS (Portugal). The match was played on 28 December 2025. Final score: 4:0.

Current form

Sporting CP: 4-1-0, 2.60 points/match. Rio Ave FC: 1-3-1, 1.20 points/match.

Goal statistics

Sporting CP scores 2.80 and concedes 0.53 goals per match. Rio Ave FC scores 1.27 and concedes 1.60. League average: 2.69 goals.

BTTS / Over / Under

BTTS: Sporting CP 47%, Rio Ave FC 67%. Over 2.5: Sporting CP 67%, Rio Ave FC 60%. League level: BTTS 46%, Over 2.5 53%.

xG, shots and style

Sporting CP has higher xG: 2.16 vs 1.07. Sporting CP: 19.3 shots per match, Rio Ave FC: 9.5.

Match halves

Sporting CP: half-time lead 53%, second-half goals 1.60. Rio Ave FC: half-time lead 33%, second-half goals 0.67.

Goals by minute

Sporting CP: 76-90+ (11 goals). Rio Ave FC: 16-30 (4 goals). This is historical distribution, not a predicted goal minute.

League context

Liga Portugal: 2.69 goals per match, BTTS 46%, Over 2.5 53%.

Head-to-head

No aligned head-to-head sample is available in the database.

Half-by-half

1 : 0
1st half
3 : 0
2nd half

Match statistics

59Possession (%)41
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
23Shots5
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
12Shots on target0
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
2.81xG0.49
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
8Corners1
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
71Dangerous attacks23
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
13Fouls6
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
1Cards1
Sporting CPRio Ave FC

Pre-match profilewhat do the season numbers say?

This is a team profile based on season data and form. Match-flow statistics are shown only after the fixture is played.

Sporting CPRio Ave FC
2.8Goals scored / match1.27
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
0.53Goals conceded / match1.6
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
62%Average possession46%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
7.6Shots on target / match3.93
Sporting CPRio Ave FC

Team statswho is more efficient?

Attack and defence comparison for both teams in the current season.

19.33Shots per match9.47
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
7.6Shots on target3.93
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
14.5%Shot conversion13.4%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
62%Possession46%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
2.16xG for1.07
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
0.94xG against1.86
Sporting CPRio Ave FC

Shooting quality

Sporting CP: DominantRio Ave FC: Counter-attacking
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
Accuracy (shots on target)39%41%
Chance quality (xG per shot)0.110.11
Finishing (goals per shot on target)0.370.32

xG per shot around 0.08 usually means long-range attempts; 0.15+ usually means box chances. The style label comes from possession, shot volume and conversion.

* xG (expected goals) says how many goals a team should score from its chances. If actual goals are above xG, finishing is above average; if below xG, chances are being missed.

Team formwho is in better shape?

Last five matches and season record, overall and split by home and away matches.

Sporting CP is 117% better for: last-5 form.

2.6 pts / match - Sporting CP · 1.2 pts / match - Rio Ave FC

Sporting CP
WWDWW
Unbeaten in the last 5 matches
Season result split
80% W13% D7% L
Season (W-D-L)
12-2-1
2.53 pts / match · goal difference +34
Last 5 (W-D-L)
4-1-0
2.60 pts / match
Record at home (W-D-L)
5-1-1
Last 5 at home
4-1-0
WDWWW
Last 5 matches - averages
Goals scored: 3.4Goals conceded: 0.6xG: 1.96Opponent xG: 1.03BTTS: 60%Over 2.5: 80%
Rio Ave FC
DDWLD
Season result split
20% W53% D27% L
Season (W-D-L)
3-8-4
1.13 pts / match · goal difference -5
Last 5 (W-D-L)
1-3-1
1.20 pts / match
Record away (W-D-L)
2-5-1
Last 5 away
2-3-0
DWDWD
Last 5 matches - averages
Goals scored: 1.2Goals conceded: 1.2xG: 1.11Opponent xG: 1.58BTTS: 80%Over 2.5: 40%

Goalshow do both teams score and concede?

How many goals both teams score and concede, plus how often they keep a clean sheet or fail to score.

Sporting CP is 120% better for: goals scored per match.

2.8 goals / match - Sporting CP · 1.27 goals / match - Rio Ave FC

Sporting CP is 202% better for: goals conceded per match.

0.53 goals / match - Sporting CP · 1.6 goals / match - Rio Ave FC

Sporting CP scoring profile: very strong

Sporting CP scores in 100% of matches (15 of 15 matches), while Rio Ave FC keeps a clean sheet in 13% (2 of 15 matches).

Rio Ave FC scoring profile: mixed

Rio Ave FC scores in 73% of matches (11 of 15 matches), while Sporting CP keeps a clean sheet in 53% (8 of 15 matches).

42Goals scored (season)19
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
8Goals conceded (season)24
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
3.33Average goals in match2.87
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
17Goals scored (last 5)6
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
3Goals conceded (last 5)6
Sporting CPRio Ave FC

How often they score at least...

100%1 goal73%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
73%2 goals40%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
47%3 goals13%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
33%4 goals0%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC

How often they concede at least...

47%1 goal87%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
7%2 goals40%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
0%3 goals27%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
0%4 goals7%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC

* Statistics include both teams' home and away matches in the current season.

Both teams scored (BTTS)how often do both teams score?

How often both teams' matches have goals on both sides, compared with the league average.

46%
League average

Goal patterns

20%BTTS at half-time20%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
0%BTTS in both halves7%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
53%Scored in both halves20%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC

BTTS and goal count

33%Min. 3 goals and BTTS40%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
33%Min. 3 goals without BTTS20%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
60%BTTS - last 580%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC

Goal count (Over/Under)how often do these matches cross the goal lines?

How often matches involving these teams clear goal thresholds, in the full match and in each half.

1st half

80%Min. 1 goal before half-time80%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
47%Min. 2 goals before half-time40%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
20%Min. 3 goals before half-time7%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC

2nd half

87%Min. 1 goal after half-time80%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
53%Min. 2 goals after half-time47%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
40%Min. 3 goals after half-time13%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC

Match halveswhen do the teams score more often?

How teams split performance between first and second half: goals, points, clean sheets and half-time state.

Sporting CP is 50% better for: first-half form (half-time points).

2 pts / match - Sporting CP · 1.33 pts / match - Rio Ave FC

Sporting CP - half-time state
53% leading40% draw7% trailing
Rio Ave FC - half-time state
33% leading33% draw33% trailing

Before half-time (1st half)

2Points per match (1st half)1.33
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
1.2Goals scored (1st half)0.6
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
0.27Goals conceded (1st half)0.67
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
1.47Average goals (1st half)1.27
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
73%Clean sheet before half-time47%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
27%No goal before half-time53%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC

After half-time (2nd half)

2.33Points per match (2nd half)1
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
1.6Goals scored (2nd half)0.67
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
0.27Goals conceded (2nd half)0.93
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
1.87Average goals (2nd half)1.6
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
80%Clean sheet after half-time33%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC
20%No goal after half-time53%
Sporting CPRio Ave FC

Sporting CP - second-half results

73% W13% D13% L
30
Half-time points
18
Half-time goals
+14
Goal difference (1st half)
35
Second-half points
+20
Goal difference (2nd half)
2.00
PPG before half-time
Lead holding151%

Leads at half-time in 53% of matches and wins 80%. Also wins matches without a half-time lead.

Defence after half-time0.0

Defence stays stable across the full match.

Rio Ave FC - second-half results

20% W40% D40% L
20
Half-time points
9
Half-time goals
-1
Goal difference (1st half)
15
Second-half points
-4
Goal difference (2nd half)
1.33
PPG before half-time
Lead holding61%

Leads at half-time in 33% of matches and wins 20%. Sometimes loses the lead after half-time.

Defence after half-time+0.3

Concedes 0.3 more goals per match after half-time - defensive level drops in the second half.

Sporting CP - last 5 matches by half
1st half2nd half
Points per match2.202.60
Goals scored / match2.01.4
Goals conceded / match0.40.2
Average goals in match2.41.6
1 goal100%80%
2 goals100%40%
3 goals40%40%
Clean sheet60%80%
No goal0%20%
Goal difference+8+6
Half-time: 60% leading - 40% draw - 0% trailing
2nd half: 80% won - 20% draw - 0% lost
BTTS at half-time (last 5): 40% - Half-time goals total: 10
Rio Ave FC - last 5 matches by half
1st half2nd half
Points per match1.600.80
Goals scored / match0.80.4
Goals conceded / match0.60.6
Average goals in match1.41.0
1 goal100%60%
2 goals40%40%
3 goals0%0%
Clean sheet40%40%
No goal20%60%
Goal difference+1-1
Half-time: 40% leading - 40% draw - 20% trailing
2nd half: 0% won - 80% draw - 20% lost
BTTS at half-time (last 5): 40% - Half-time goals total: 4

* Colours in tables show event frequency: green is common, yellow is moderate, red is rare. It is frequency, not a team rating.

Goals by minutewhen do goals arrive?

Match phases in which both teams most often score and concede.

Sporting CP
ScoredConceded
4
2
0-15
5
2
16-30
9
0
31-45
6
1
46-60
7
2
61-75
11
1
76-90

Most dangerous in minutes 76-90 (11 goals). Concedes most in 0-15 (2). Late-goal balance (76-90): +10 - wins late phases.

Rio Ave FC
ScoredConceded
2
2
0-15
4
3
16-30
3
5
31-45
2
3
46-60
4
5
61-75
4
6
76-90

Most dangerous in minutes 16-30 (4 goals). Concedes most in 76-90 (6). Late-goal balance (76-90): -2 - late phases are a weakness.

* Buckets 31-45 and 76-90 include added-time goals.

Additional team indicatorswhat do xG, efficiency and form show?

A comparison of chance quality, results and trends based on completed matches from the current season.

Match profile

3.10
Estimated goals
attack vs opponent defence
2.2 : 0.9
Estimated goal split
home : away
115%
Pace vs league
100% = league average
57%
Both teams scored (BTTS)
average from both teams' seasons
-100%
Derby effect
H2H goals vs typical matches
73%
BTTS estimate
from both teams' scoring frequency
0%
0:0 risk
practically zero
2-3
Most common goal range
attack vs defence on both sides

Sporting CP

Net xG balance
Difference between the quality of chances created and allowed per match.
+1.22
Results compared with xG
Difference between the actual goal balance and the balance suggested by xG.
+1.05
Points compared with goal balance
Comparison between collected points and the points implied by the team's goal balance.
-5.4 pts
Finishing efficiency
Does the team convert chances? Positive means it scores more than the quality of chances suggests.
+0.64
Defensive efficiency
Does the defence or goalkeeper save the team? Positive means it concedes less than the chances allowed suggest.
+0.41
Attack vs league
How much the team scores compared with the league average for this role. 120% means 20% above average.
200%
Defence vs league
How much the team concedes compared with the league average. 80% means 20% fewer goals conceded.
41%
Form trend
Compares points from the last 5 matches with the whole-season average.
+0.07
Stronger second half?
How many more goals the team scores after half-time than before it.
+0.4
Late goals
26% of this team's goals come in minutes 76-90. For comparison, 10% come in the first quarter-hour.
26%

Rio Ave FC

Net xG balance
Difference between the quality of chances created and allowed per match.
-0.79
Results compared with xG
Difference between the actual goal balance and the balance suggested by xG.
+0.46
Points compared with goal balance
Comparison between collected points and the points implied by the team's goal balance.
-0.3 pts
Finishing efficiency
Does the team convert chances? Positive means it scores more than the quality of chances suggests.
+0.20
Defensive efficiency
Does the defence or goalkeeper save the team? Positive means it concedes less than the chances allowed suggest.
+0.26
Attack vs league
How much the team scores compared with the league average for this role. 120% means 20% above average.
98%
Defence vs league
How much the team concedes compared with the league average. 80% means 20% fewer goals conceded.
114%
Form trend
Compares points from the last 5 matches with the whole-season average.
+0.07
Stronger second half?
How many more goals the team scores after half-time than before it.
+0.1
Late goals
21% of this team's goals come in minutes 76-90. For comparison, 11% come in the first quarter-hour.
21%

* The estimated goal total and split, BTTS estimate, 0:0 risk and goal range are calculated from public season averages and frequencies for both teams. This is a statistical match profile, not a private model prediction or betting pick. The remaining indicators describe completed matches from the season.

League contextis this a high-scoring league?

How both teams compare with league-wide averages (Liga Portugal).

Teams vs league

Sporting CPLigaRio Ave FC
Average goals in match 3.332.69 2.87
Both teams scored 47%46% 67%
Min. 3 goals (Over 2.5) 67%53% 60%
Clean sheets 53%30% 13%
Goal before half-time 80%75% 80%
Goal after half-time 87%74% 80%

^ green = above league average, ˇ red = below league average. This shows direction of the gap, not a team rating.

2.69
Average goals per match
46%
Both teams scored
53%
Min. 3 goals (Over 2.5)
30%
Clean sheets
1.40
Home goals / match
1.29
Away goals / match
+9%
Home attack advantage
+8%
Home defence advantage
+0%
Total home advantage
Goals in 1st half (whole league)
75%
1 goal
40%
2 goals
14%
3 goals
1%
4 goals
Goals in 2nd half (whole league)
74%
1 goal
40%
2 goals
19%
3 goals
4%
4 goals

Lineups and player events

Verified starters, substitutes and recorded player events for this match.

Match timeline

Goals, cards and substitutions arranged in chronological order.

Referee and managers

Open their season profiles to compare match records, goals and disciplinary trends.

Referee context

See how often this referee shows cards, awards penalties and how their matches tend to finish.

Carlos André Fernandes MacedoMatches officiated: 12
2.58Cards per match
0Penalties per match
1 / X / 275%Home wins8%Draws17%Away wins

FAQ

What was the result of Sporting CP vs Rio Ave FC?

The Liga NOS match finished Sporting CP 4:0 Rio Ave FC. Full match statistics, the half-by-half breakdown and head-to-head are on this page.

What do the goal statistics show before Sporting CP vs Rio Ave FC?

Sporting CP score 2.80 goals per game on average and Rio Ave FC 1.27. The Liga NOS average is 2.69 goals, with Over 2.5 landing in 53% of games. Both teams score in 47% of Sporting CP's matches and 67% of Rio Ave FC's.

What form are Sporting CP and Rio Ave FC in?

Over the last 5 games Sporting CP have a 4-1-0 record (2.60 points per game) and Rio Ave FC 1-3-1 (1.20 points per game).

Where can I find a betting tip and analysis for Sporting CP vs Rio Ave FC?

The statistical background for Sporting CP vs Rio Ave FC — form, head-to-head, goals, BTTS and Over/Under — is on this page. The tip with full reasoning and a value assessment is in the NoFluffPicks app.