Two teams eager to bounce back from their respective defeats lock horns this Saturday as Casa Pia welcome Gil Vicente for round 23 of the Primeira Liga.
The Geese arrive at this clash on the back of a pulsating contest at Moreirense, where they fell short despite a late push, while the visitors endured another frustrating evening on Monday, extending their dismal run with yet another defeat.
Match preview
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Casa Pia are beginning to see their inconsistencies come to the fore after suffering a second defeat in their last three league outings.
A seven-game unbeaten run, comprising five wins and two draws from December 8 to January 25, had placed them in a promising position, but their momentum took a hit with a 2-1 loss at Santa Clara.
While a hard-fought victory over Estrela Amadora at home briefly steadied the ship, the Geese found themselves three goals down by half time at Moreirense, where Alan netted a hat-trick, before Max Svensson and Cassiano struck in the second half to merely soften the scoreline in a 3-2 setback.
That result marked Casa Pia's fifth league defeat on the road, yet they remain in sixth place with 33 points from nine wins, six draws and seven losses.
Back on their turf, where they have fared slightly better, securing 19 points (5W, 4D, 2L) – the sixth-best home record in the division – Joao Pereira's men will be determined to end their winless run against Vicente, having failed to beat them in six meetings across all competitions, including a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture in September last year.
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Meanwhile, the visitors will aim to extend their dominance over the hosts, having secured at least one victory in both of their previous top-flight campaigns to build a record of three wins and two draws.
However, their form offers little encouragement, with Monday's 2-0 home loss to Famalicao condemning them to a fourth successive defeat – a slump that prompted a change in the dugout.
On Tuesday, Vicente and Bruno Pinheiro parted ways by mutual agreement, leaving the club in 14th place with 22 points, just three clear of the relegation playoff spot.
The Roosters' struggles have been largely down to their inefficiency in front of goal, netting just once in their last four matches while conceding seven.
With a managerial vacancy still to be filled, Vicente will need to dig deep to arrest their slump, though their woeful away record – the worst in the division with six points from one win, two draws and seven losses – hardly inspires confidence.
Team News
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Casa Pia's defeat at Moreirense came at an extra cost, with top scorer Cassiano forced off with an injury in stoppage time, casting doubt over his availability for the weekend.
Should he miss out, Svensson could lead the line after his lively display last time out, where he grabbed a goal and an assist.
Meanwhile, midfielder Claudio Mendes (sprained ankle) and winger Kiki (unspecified injury) remain sidelined.
For the visitors, Santi Garcia is suspended after picking up a yellow card against Famalicao, while Sphephelo Sithole remains out with a ligament injury.
In addition, Pablo remains a doubt, having missed the last three matches, further limiting Vicente's options as they seek a turnaround in fortunes.
Casa Pia possible starting lineup:
Sequeira; Kluivert, Fonte, Goulart; Geraldes, Brito, Sousa, Lelo; Livolant, Svensson, Moreira
Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:
Andrew; Cruz, Fernandes, Josue Sa, Ze Carlos; Fujimoto, Castillo, Caseres; Bermejo, Eduardo, Correia
We say: Casa Pia 2-0 Gil Vicente
While Casa Pia's inconsistency has been evident in recent weeks, the timing could not be better to secure their first-ever win against the struggling visitors, with Vicente's poor run and turmoil in the dugout leaving them vulnerable.
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Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
