Rio Ave had more of the ball than usual and still lost 4-0

Famalicao won 4-0 at Rio Ave by turning fewer possessions into far better chances, while the home side's share of the ball rose well above its usual level.

Rio Ave had more of the ball at the Estádio dos Arcos than they usually do, and still lost 4-0 to Famalicao. They held 58% of possession, where their home games this season have averaged 44.9%. Usually that kind of share says a side is pinning its opponent back, but here it bought them very little.

The trouble was what they did with it. Rio Ave took seven shots, close to their usual 7.6 at home, but their expected goals, a rough measure of how good the chances were by adding up the chance of each shot going in, came to 0.66 against an average of 0.77. In other words they had plenty of the ball but no better opportunities than usual. Famalicao, by contrast, took 11 shots against an away average of 9.5, and their expected goals of 0.93 sat well above the 0.65 they usually manage on the road.

The first goal came in the 48th minute, when Roméo Beney finished from a pass by Rodrigo Pinheiro. Beney was one of the players the match turned on, and he earned an 8.2 rating for it. Rio Ave had already been booked twice before the break, with Vasco César Freire de Seabra and Miguel Patrício both picking up yellow cards in the 40th and 42nd minutes, so the home side were already spending their energy on stopping things rather than building.

Pedro Santos made it 2-0 in the 80th minute, and it was his pass that set up Óscar Aranda for the goal in the 85th. Santos took part in two of the goals, which is why he finished with a rating of 7.7 and not a higher one. Rio Ave conceded four in this match, when their home average is 2.1 goals against, and it was the most they have let in at home this season over the games we have on record for them.

For Rio Ave, the most productive attacking figures came from J. Blesa, who had two shots, both on target, which is more accurate than most of his team managed. Their passing was tidy, with 464 of their 535 passes finding a teammate, but passing accurately did not carry them into the box often enough. Famalicao, meanwhile, rarely needed to force their way through, and their goalkeeper was not called on in a way that would have troubled a result. Sorriso won nine duels, a figure that shows how much of the midfield contest went his way.

The result leaves Rio Ave 15th in the table with seven points from eight matches, and they have won only two of their home games. Famalicao are 14th, also on seven points, and their win is their first away at Rio Ave's ground this season. Both clubs remain in the lower half of the table, but Famalicao leave with the points and Rio Ave leave with nothing more than possession.

Player of the matchR. Beney1 goal8.2

Óscar Aranda2 goals8.1

Sorriso1 assist7.7

Pedro Santos1 goal · 1 assist7.7