Football Season Guide

Rio Ave was able to quickly return to top flight, after having been relegated to second division just last year. Vilacondenses were overly dominant during the season and finished in top of the table looking really above their class. Coach Luís Freire was able not just to adapt the team to Second Division context, but also to build a very consistent group of players for the next season. The historical team from Portugal looks really sharp for the new season. They didn’t move much from last season, making just some chirurgical additions with top flight experiences, like Patrick William, João Ferreira and Leonardo Ruiz. In goal, there are three very competent Brazilians to take care of the job, but of course Jhonatan will be the owner of the goal and hoped to reach the form he had before a very long injury stopped him in 2019/2020. Team icon Aderllan is still looking sharp at 33; he formed a very solid duo with Paraguayan Pantalón last season, but now there will also be Patrick William and the promising Manuel Nóbrega for the position. João Ferreira arrived to be the owner of right-back position, while Pedro Amaral is expected to continue his good form on the left side. In midfield, Guga will return to Primeira Division with his confidence boosted after having been voted the best player of 2nd division in 2021-22. The creative (yet irregular) Amine Oudrhiri should be the playmaker, while Joca, João Graça and the excellent (but aging) Vítor Gomes are very competent units to complete the trio in the middle. In attack, Gabrielzinho is gone. But on the other hand, there will be bigger firepower with Leonardo Ruiz competing with Yakubu and Pedro Moreira in the striker position. André Pereira and the veterans Ukra (a club icon) and Zé Manel are very reliable options as well. Fabrice Olinga and new man Paulo Vitor are the jokers for the new season.