Casa Pia and Estoril Praia will face off at the Estadio Pina Manique on Monday evening in a clash between two sides looking to finish the Primeira Liga campaign on a high.
Separated by just two points and one place in the standings, both teams will be desperate to find some late-season consistency and strengthen their claims for a top-half finish.
Match preview
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Casa Pia sit eighth in the table with 41 points from 11 victories, eight draws and 11 defeats, one spot and two points clear of their visitors, though their recent form has left much to be desired.
A late Caue Santos strike salvaged a point for the Geese in their trip to AVS last time out, ensuring they avoided back-to-back losses, but it also extended their winless run to three games.
A 2-1 victory against Rio Ave remains Casa Pia's only success in the last seven outings, a stark contrast to their earlier momentum when they picked up five wins in seven.
That downturn has taken a toll on their European ambitions, with Os Gansos now sitting seven points adrift of the Conference League spot and with just four matches left to bridge the gap.
Should they still harbour hopes of securing a top-five finish, near perfection will be required in the run-in, starting against a side they beat 2-0 in the reverse fixture to end a 23-year wait for victory in this matchup.
However, history is not entirely on their side, with Casa Pia having failed to win any of their five previous meetings against Estoril on their own turf across all competitions.
Despite that, the Geese's record at Estadio Pina Manique this term offers encouragement, with seven victories from 15 league games, and they will hope that home advantage can tip the balance in their favour on Monday.
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Meanwhile, Estoril travel to the capital on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Braga, marking the first time in 2025 the Canarinhos have failed to score in consecutive matches.
This continued a worrying run for Ian Cathro's men, who have won just once in their last seven games, losing four of those fixtures, a sharp contrast to their earlier purple patch where they went unbeaten in eight and claimed six victories.
The Canaries have looked increasingly fragile at the back, shipping 48 goals this season — the joint most of any team above the relegation playoff spot — underlining their defensive vulnerabilities.
Estoril's away form also paints a bleak picture, with just four wins from 15 matches on the road and only one victory in their last five, casting doubt over their ability to turn the tide this Monday.
Team News
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Leonardo Lelo is a doubt for Monday, which could hand Fahem Benaissa-Yahia a chance to start at left wing-back.
Isaac Monteiro could make his debut if the manager sticks with a three-man defensive line, as Andre Geraldes misses out due to an accumulation of bookings and Duplexe Tchamba remains sidelined through injury.
Other players on the treatment table include Clau Mendes and Kiki Silva, both of whom will play no part on Monday.
Caue came off the bench to net the equaliser last time out and could be handed a start up front if changes are made in attack.
Felix Bacher is back available and should reclaim his starting spot, while Wagner Pina is also at Estoril's disposal, although Pedro Carvalho might get the nod over him this time around.
It would not be a surprise if Cathro makes a change in goal, with Kevin Chamorro featuring as he returns to full fitness.
Casa Pia possible starting lineup:
Sequeira; Goulart, Kluivert, Isaac; Benaissa-Yahia, Mohamed, Roberto, Larrazabal; Pereira, Cassiano, Livolant
Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:
Chamorro; Bacher, Boma, Alvaro; Amaral, Holsgrove, Xeka, P. Carvalho; Guitane, Lacximicant, J. Carvalho
We say: Casa Pia 1-0 Estoril Praia
Despite recent struggles, Casa Pia have won three of their last five home games, so securing another victory against an Estoril side who have not been convincing on their recent travels would not come as a surprise.
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Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
