Aiming to respond to last week's defeat by Santa Clara, Casa Pia welcome relegation-threatened Estrela Amadora to Estadio Municipal de Rio Maior in Sunday's all-Lisbon Primeira Liga action.
Casapianos, defeated after a seven-match unbeaten sequence (five wins), have not lost a home game since August and aim to extend that run in gameweek 21's clash with the division's third-bottom outfit and worst travellers.
Match preview
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Casa Pia will be sick of the sight of Santa Clara after losing to the Ponta Delgada outfit last time out, snapping a seven-match undefeated sequence.
Having been the last team to defeat Os Gansos in front of their supporters in late August, the Azoreans doing the double over Joao Pereira's men prevented the Lisbon-based club from extending their streak without losing to eight.
Regardless, the sixth-placed club still have one unbeaten run going, with the Geese aiming to avoid losing for the ninth match on the trot on their turf, having played out four wins and as many draws in eight encounters.
The ongoing run includes a stunning 3-1 victory over Lisbon rivals Benfica in late January, a triumph magnified by Casapianos' turnaround after Angel Di Maria's 14th-minute opener.
However, the home support will be wary of Sunday's opponent, having lost last season's corresponding fixture 1-0 in October 2023.
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Indeed, Jose Faria will hope to catch Casa Pia on a rare off-day on home soil as the Tricolours aim to avoid another away disappointment this weekend.
While Estrela have accrued 17 points from 20 games, 14 have been at Estadio Jose Gomes, underscoring the Tricolours' struggles on their travels.
Although they nicked a marginal success in the corresponding meeting in 2023-24, that win was the visiting club's last top-flight victory on their travels, highlighting why they find themselves in the relegation playoff spot before round 21.
With six defeats and three draws in nine matches away from Amadora this term, Estrela are one of three Liga sides yet to win away from home this term, with Nacional also on three road points from 10 games and promoted AVS playing out five draws and five defeats on their travels this term.
A seventh away disappointment this weekend could see the third-bottom club slip into the relegation zone, even though that outcome is contingent on 17th-placed Farense defeating Nacional in 14th.
Team News
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With Casa Pia suffering no seeming injury problem against Santa Clara, Claudio Mendes and Kiki are the club's anticipated absentees on Sunday.
Nuno Moreira has scored in consecutive games to take the forward to five Liga goals this term, one behind Os Gansos' leading scorer Cassiano, and the attacking onus is on the pair this weekend.
Estrela came through their 3-2 loss to Benfica unscathed, leaving Tiago Mamede and Alan Ruiz as the away side's injured players.
Kikas and Rodrigo Pinho have netted four goals each entering Sunday's all-Lisbon contest, but Faria could lean towards Pinho from the off.
Strikingly, both forwards have scored one apiece away from home, accounting for 66.7% of the Tricolours' three strikes on their travels.
Casa Pia possible starting lineup:
Sequeira; Tchamba, Fonte, Goulart; Larrazabal, Brito, Kraev, Lelo; Livolant, Cassiano, Moreira
Estrela Amadora possible starting lineup:
Gudzulic; Lima, Ferro, Drame; Travassos, Moreira, Keliano, Varela; Bucca, Pinho, Banza
We say: Casa Pia 1-0 Estrela Amadora
During their eight-match undefeated run on home soil, Casa Pia have either netted three goals — 3-1 wins over Moreirense, Arouca and Benfica — or scored one, as highlighted in 1-1 draws against Vitoria Guimaraes, Farense, AVS and Famalicao, while they secured a 1-0 success over Nacional.
Given the precedent and Estrela's miserable productivity on their travels, the hosts should back themselves for a slender victory on Sunday.
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