"I expect an open game, well-played, between two teams that will create scoring chances. We are aware of the difficulties, but we are eager to play, understanding that this is a new opportunity to play a good game, in our stadium, where we have good performances", said Luís Freire.

The Vila-Condense team is in a sequence of seven games without losing [six draws and one win] and, despite still not having the main objective of guaranteed maintenance, Luís Freire showed confidence in the recent performances.

"We are in 11th place, with 30 points. If you told me that, after the difficulties we went through, we would be, in April, ahead of seven teams, I would sign for it. We are the seventh team with the most points in the second round, but we know that nothing is done yet, we have to fight to the maximum to achieve the objectives", said the coach of the Ave team.

Luís Freire said "it is unfair" to make comparisons between the season of Rio Ave and Arouca, recalling that his team "was prevented from registering players for 16 months".

"Many people said that we were going to be relegated. We were almost in the penultimate position, but, in January, like other teams, we went to the market and improved. We were 10 points behind some opponents and now we are ahead of them. We have made a good and consistent recovery", he analyzed.

The coach refused to point out a specific score that seems sufficient for the maintenance objective, and said that this final stretch of the championship must be "faced game by game".

"More than doing something different, we have to do better than we usually do. This opponent poses different challenges from what we felt in the last round, against Estrela da Amadora [2-2 draw]. We have to be smart to understand what we need to do to win", added Luís Freire.

The Rio Ave coach recognized the opponent's offensive power, mirroring it with the efficiency "of Cristo [González] and [Rafa] Mujica, who together have more goals than almost all the teams from the middle of the table down".

"They are two forwards who are in great shape, but we have to analyze Arouca by their collective and, above all, for what we can do. We need to show a great desire to play with a chip of quality, aggression and ambition", completed Luís Freire.

For this challenge, the Vila-Condense coach cannot count on central defender Renato Pantalon or midfielder Amine, both injured.

Rio Ave, 11th place, with 30 points, hosts Arouca, seventh, with 43, this Friday in a match scheduled for 8:15 pm, which will be refereed by Bruno Vieira, of the Beja Football Association.