CD Santa Clara vs Rio Ave

Santa Clara host Rio Ave in a Primeira Liga fixture that carries early-season weight for both clubs. The Açores side sit fourth in the table after three rounds, one of the league's better starts, while Rio Ave find themselves in the bottom half following a mixed opening. Three points here would keep Santa Clara among the early pace-setters, while Rio Ave badly need a response. Santa Clara's form has been built on defensive solidity, with defender Pedro Pacheco chipping in with important goals from set pieces. Rio Ave's campaign has been rockier - an away win at Estoril sandwiched between losses to Gil Vicente and Porto - and it got worse with a heavy 4-0 defeat away to Sporting, where Luis Suárez scored twice. Winger Marious Vrousai, named in last season's Team of the Year, remains their most dangerous attacker. The clubs have met 22 times, with Santa Clara holding a slim historical edge. Our prediction: 2-1