Rio Ave 3-2 Nacional: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
Liga Portugal Matchday 8 · Sunday 11 October 2026 · Estádio do Rio Ave Futebol Clube, Vila do Conde · referee C. Fernandes Macedo · full time
Full time: Rio Ave 3-2 Nacional
Rio Ave beat Nacional 3-2 in Liga Portugal Matchday 8 on Sunday 11 October 2026 at Estádio do Rio Ave Futebol Clube. The goals: Abdel Kader Njoya 32', Sebastian Clemmensen 39', Diogo Bezerra 57', Abdel Kader Njoya 59', Jalen Blesa 72'.
How Rio Ave won it
The opening goal came in the 32nd minute: Abdel Kader Njoya for Nacional, set up by Francisco Gonçalves. Rio Ave levelled at 1-1 in the 39th minute through Sebastian Clemmensen. Rio Ave turned it round: Diogo Bezerra made it 2-1 in the 57th minute, set up by Sebastian Clemmensen. Nacional levelled at 2-2 in the 59th minute through Abdel Kader Njoya. Jalen Blesa from the penalty spot made it 3-2 to Rio Ave in the 72nd minute.
It was 1-1 at half-time, and the second half changed the result.
Abdel Kader Njoya scored twice.
The lead changed hands once.
João Tomé of Rio Ave was sent off in the 54th minute for a second yellow card. The referee, C. Fernandes Macedo, showed 3 yellow cards: 3 to Rio Ave and 0 to Nacional.
Rio Ave: V. Freire De Seabra, 4-2-3-1 · Nacional: A. Crispim Santos, 4-2-3-1.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Why it went this way
On the day the expected goals were 1.20 for Rio Ave and 1.67 for Nacional.
Rio Ave scored about 1.8 more than their chances were worth: clinical finishing, or a goalkeeper having a bad day.
Rio Ave had 7 shots on target, Nacional 5.
Rio Ave had 57% of the ball and turned it into the win.
A red card changed the shape of the match, and no pre-match model can see one coming.
Where the two sides stood before this match
Rio Ave came into it with 8 Liga Portugal matches played, scoring 1.0 and conceding 2.1 a match, with 0.77 expected goals for and 1.86 against, and had won 25% of their matches.
Nacional came into it with 8 Liga Portugal matches played, scoring 1.1 and conceding 2.3 a match, with 1.20 expected goals for and 1.75 against, and had won 13% of their matches.
Rio Ave vs Nacional: the match in numbers
| Rio Ave | Match statistics | Nacional |
|---|---|---|
| 57% | Ball possession | 43% |
| 1.20 | Expected goals (xG) | 1.67 |
| 11 | Total shots | 12 |
| 7 | Shots on target | 5 |
| 4 | Big chances | 4 |
| 423 | Total passes | 313 |
| 85% | Pass accuracy | 78% |
| 8 | Corners | 8 |
| 7 | Fouls | 17 |
| 0 | Offsides | 3 |
| 12 | Tackles | 22 |
| 3 | Saves | 3 |
| 4 | Yellow cards | 0 |
| 1 | Red cards | 0 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Abdel Kader Njoya (Nacional), rated 8.1 by Sportmonks, with 2 goals.
Rio Ave
- Sebastian Clemmensen 8.0 1 goal, 1 assist
- Jalen Blesa 7.6 1 goal
- Diogo Bezerra 7.0 1 goal
- Malik Sellouki 6.8
- Gustavo Mancha 6.7
Nacional
- Abdel Kader Njoya 8.1 2 goals
- Francisco Gonçalves 7.1 1 assist
- Miguel Baeza 7.0
- Allen Obando 6.8
- Min-kyu Song 6.8
The lowest-rated starter was João Tomé at 5.4. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- Rio Ave: Rio Ave vs Famalicão Sunday 25 October 2026 · Liga Portugal
- Nacional: Nacional vs Sporting Braga Sunday 25 October 2026 · Liga Portugal
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about Rio Ave vs Nacional
What was the score in Rio Ave vs Nacional?
Rio Ave 3-2 Nacional (half-time 1-1), Liga Portugal, Sunday 11 October 2026.
Who scored in Rio Ave vs Nacional?
Abdel Kader Njoya 32', Sebastian Clemmensen 39', Diogo Bezerra 57', Abdel Kader Njoya 59', Jalen Blesa 72'.
Did Moneyball predict Rio Ave vs Nacional correctly?
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Who was man of the match in Rio Ave vs Nacional?
Abdel Kader Njoya, rated 8.1 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed Rio Ave vs Nacional?
C. Fernandes Macedo.
Every match, before and after
Moneyball Odds writes a preview with its estimate before every match of Europe's top five leagues and the European cups, then marks it against the result, hits and misses alike.
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