Image: from Cabine Desportiva X @CabineSport
By Open Chronicle Sports Desk
Liga Portugal Betclic 2026/27 | Matchday 3 | 22 August 2026
Rio Ave claimed their first victory of the 2026/27 Liga Portugal campaign with a composed 2,0 win away to Estoril Praia at the Estádio António Coimbra da Mota.
Jalen Blesa was the decisive figure. The Spanish forward opened the scoring after 15 minutes and later supplied the assist for Tamble Monteiro to secure the victory in the 72nd minute.
The result gave the Vila do Conde side their first three points of the season after opening defeats against Gil Vicente and FC Porto, while Estoril remained without a victory after three rounds.
☑ RESUMO
I Liga (#3) | Estoril 0-2 Rio Ave#LigaPortugalBetclic #VSPORTSLPBETCLIC #EPOCA2627 #JORNADA3 #GDEPRAFC #GDEP #RAFC
Todos os vídeos 👉 https://t.co/sOzyr4fJNh pic.twitter.com/4Qb0svEYsZ— VSPORTS ARCHIVE (@VsportsArchive) August 22, 2026
Rio Ave strike first
Both teams began the evening looking for a first league win, which gave the opening phase an immediate sense of urgency.
Estoril attempted to take control through possession and attacking numbers, but Rio Ave proved more efficient when their opportunity arrived.
In the 15th minute, Diogo Bezerra delivered from the left and Jalen Blesa attacked the cross in the centre of the area, directing his header beyond Joel Robles.
It was Blesa’s first goal of the campaign and gave Rio Ave the advantage with their first major chance of the contest.
Estoril have the ball, Rio Ave have the control
The first half developed into an interesting contrast.
Estoril had more of the ball and generated more attacking situations, but struggled to turn possession into clear chances.
Rio Ave were more selective.
Once in front, they defended with discipline, protected the central areas and waited for moments to attack the spaces left by the hosts.
The score therefore remained 0,1 at half time.
That pattern would ultimately define the match.
Blesa almost scores again
Rio Ave thought they had doubled the lead shortly after the interval.
Blesa found the net again in the 53rd minute, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
The decision kept Estoril within one goal, yet the warning was clear.
Rio Ave remained dangerous whenever they transitioned forward.
Tamble makes it safe
The decisive second goal arrived in the 72nd minute.
This time Blesa became the creator.
The forward supplied Tamble Monteiro, who converted to make it 2,0 and effectively secure the three points for Rio Ave.
Blesa therefore finished the evening with a goal and an assist, making him the outstanding attacking performer of the contest.
Full Time
Estoril Praia 0,2 Rio Ave FC
Goals
15′, Jalen Blesa, Rio Ave
72′, Tamble Monteiro, Rio Ave
Assist for first goal: Diogo Bezerra
Assist for second goal: Jalen Blesa
Stadium: Estádio António Coimbra da Mota
Referee: Carlos Macedo
The numbers tell two different stories
Statistically, Estoril were not overwhelmed.
The home side finished with approximately 55% possession, produced 18 shots and registered six attempts on target, compared with Rio Ave’s three efforts on target. Estoril also won six corners to Rio Ave’s three.
Yet the scoreboard told the more important story.
Rio Ave were more efficient in both penalty areas.
Their defence protected goalkeeper Ennio van der Gouw effectively, while Blesa and Tamble converted the visitors’ best opportunities.
It was a classic example of territorial control failing to translate into result.
Blesa emerges as the match winner
Jalen Blesa’s influence went beyond the opening goal.
His movement gave Rio Ave an outlet whenever Estoril pushed numbers forward. His aerial finish demonstrated excellent timing, and his contribution to the second goal completed a decisive individual display.
The Spanish forward was also named the standout player by Portuguese match coverage.
For Rio Ave, having a forward capable of both finishing and creating could become particularly valuable as the season develops.
First victory changes Rio Ave’s early picture
The significance of the win is clearer when placed alongside Rio Ave’s first two matches.
They began the campaign with a 1,0 defeat against Gil Vicente.
A 2,0 home defeat to FC Porto followed.
That meant Matchday 3 arrived with Rio Ave still without a point and without a league goal.
Ninety minutes later, both problems had disappeared.
Two goals.
A clean sheet.
Three points.
And an away victory.
The difference between beginning a season with three consecutive defeats and collecting a first win at the third attempt can be considerable, both statistically and psychologically.
Estoril’s difficult start continues
For Estoril, the result extended a disappointing beginning to the campaign.
The Canarinhos opened with a 1,1 draw against Famalicão before losing 2,0 at Nacional.
Another 2,0 defeat followed against Rio Ave.
That leaves Vasco Matos’ side with one point from three matches, while the attack has produced only one league goal.
The concern is not simply the results.
Against Rio Ave, Estoril enjoyed long periods in possession but were unable to convert territorial superiority into goals.
That is an issue they will need to solve quickly.
Defensive improvement for Rio Ave
Just as important as the two goals was the clean sheet.
Rio Ave had conceded in both of their previous league matches.
At Estoril, they looked considerably more compact.
Jakub Brabec and Nelson Abbey helped organise the defensive structure, while goalkeeper Ennio van der Gouw dealt with the pressure that reached him.
The result therefore offered evidence of progress at both ends of the pitch.
Matchday 3 implications
Rio Ave’s victory moved them onto three points and lifted them away from the group still searching for a first win.
Estoril remained on one.
At such an early stage, the table can change rapidly, but first victories matter.
They provide evidence that a team’s ideas can translate into results.
For Rio Ave, this was that moment.
What comes next
Rio Ave now return home for a much more difficult assignment.
They host Sporting CP in Matchday 4 on 28 August.
Estoril, meanwhile, face another major challenge when they travel to the Estádio da Luz to play Benfica later in the round.
For Rio Ave, the task will be to turn one excellent away performance into sustained momentum.
For Estoril, the priority is more urgent.
They need goals.
They need points.
And after this 2,0 defeat, they need a response.