Match Report
The table read 9th (Vitória Guimarães, 42 pts) against 12th (Rio Ave, 36 pts), 6 points apart. The last five rounds placed Rio Ave no better than 16th for form, against 12th in the standings. Scoring rates set the scale: Vitória Guimarães 1.15 scored and 1.5 conceded per game, Rio Ave 1.03 and 1.68, with the league averaging 1.34.
The head-to-head ledger counts 31 games: 17 Vitória Guimarães wins, 6 for Rio Ave, 8 draws, at 2.1 goals per meeting. Whoever hosts gains little here: home teams have taken just 39% of the wins in this fixture.
The match was played at Estádio Dom Afonso Henriques (capacity 30,008). On the scoreboard, it was 0-0 at the break; 2 second-half goals set the final 2-0.
Goal scorers
Vitória Guimarães: Samu (72'), Tony Strata (90')
Key stats
Possession: Vitória Guimarães 56% · Rio Ave 44% · Total shots: 11-5 · On target: 3-4 · Corners: 3-5