Moreirense and Casa Pia face off in Guimaraes for their first-ever competitive meeting in a Primeira Liga encounter on Monday.
With the Portuguese top flight seemingly split into three factions, the hosts have eyes on Europe, while Casa Pia will simply be looking to maintain a healthy distance between themselves and the relegation zone.
Match preview
© Reuters
Along with local rivals Vitoria Guimaraes, Moreirense are seemingly in a two-horse race for the Primeira Liga's two Europa Conference League spots.
Unless there is a shock winner of either of the domestic cups, the top six will secure European football, and the two clubs are a long way clear of seventh but appear unlikely to challenge the top four.
Moreirense are three points behind Guimaraes, and six off Braga, but there is a huge eight-point gap between themselves and Famalicao one place below.
The gap has been created thanks to an exceptional 10-game unbeaten streak by Rui Borges's side, as they have not lost since travelling to Sporting Lisbon in mid-September.
In that time, Moreirense have taken 22 points - more than Porto - and defensive solidity has been their backbone, with seven clean sheets in those 10 games.
A win over Guimaraes in the derby and holding Benfica to a 0-0 draw have been the notable highlights in recent weeks, as they have dealt with the weaker sides relatively comfortably, and they have two more winnable games ahead against Casa Pia and Estoril.
Things will get tougher in the coming weeks though, as Moreirense will face Porto, Braga and Sporting before mid-February, and that run will almost certainly make or break their ambitions to break into the top four.
As the bottom 11 is extraordinarily tight, Casa Pia's target will be to remain out of the drop zone.
© Reuters
The visitors are just two points off seventh, but at the same time, only four points clear of an automatic relegation spot.
Despite a tough end to 2023, Casa Pia performed stoutly, beating Chaves and Portimonense to make up for spirited 3-1 defeats against Porto and Braga.
There is no hiding the fact that Casa Pia's away form is what is keeping them out of trouble at the moment, though.
Eleven points from their eight games on the road is one of the finest records in the division, and makes up for the fact that Pedro Moreira's side have the fewest home points at present, with just five.
Team News
The Moreirense faithful will be glad to see that Ponck and Kobamelo Kodisang were snubbed by Cape Verde and South Africa respectively ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, and both could feature in some capacity here.
Despite priding themselves on defensive solidity, striker Andre Luis has been the man-in-form, picking up the man of the match award in three of their last five games, scoring in all of them.
For Casa Pia, fellow Brazilian forward Clayton joins Andre Luis on six league goals so far, and he has been in good form himself, having netted three goals in his last two games.
The visitors will be without Kiki for this clash through injury, but Japan's Yuki Soma and Angola's Beni were both left out of their respective squads for the upcoming international tournaments.
Moreirense possible starting lineup:
Kewin; Pinto, Maracas, Marcelo, Pedro Amador; Ofori, Goncalo Franco; Kodisang, Alanzinho, Madson; Andre Luis
Casa Pia possible starting lineup:
Ricardo Batista; Larrazabal, Joao Nunes, Zolotic, Lelo; Tiago Dias, Neto, Mukendi, Soma; Clayton, Cardoso
We say: Moreirense 1-0 Casa Pia
Moreirense have got into the habit of keeping teams out and picking up points regularly, especially against those below them, and while it may be gritty, the hosts should get the three points here.
Seven clean sheets in 10 games suggests Casa Pia may find it difficult to break Moreirense down, and their meagre 14 goals so far this season does not provide much more encouragement.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
