Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Preview: Casa Pia vs. Famalicao - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 11 January 2024, 22:02
Casa Pia will be hoping to continue their upward trajectory in the Primeira Liga when they take on a stumbling Famalicao at Estadio Municipal de Rio Maior on Saturday afternoon.

Both these sides are tied on 19 points apiece heading into this fixture, though the hosts are in eighth place while the visitors are ninth owing to a goal difference of two.

Match preview

Casa Pia endured a very poor start to the 2023-24 league campaign and were firmly in the relegation scrap after the first 10 gameweeks, during which time they managed just two league wins.

However, since the introduction of Pedro Moreira during the November international break, The Geese seem to have found their feet again and forced their way into the top half of the table in their first league match of 2024.

That came as a result of beating Moreirense, who have been very good this season, while they also secured three points against each of Portimonense (1-0) and Chaves (3-1) last month.

Over their last five league games, the hosts have suffered two defeats, both against top-four opponents Braga and Porto, though those 3-1 scorelines arguably flattered the winners as Casa Pia were more than competitive in both matches.

Despite facing a setback against Braga, the hosts did manage to claim their first home win this season against Portimonense last month and will be eager to get back to winning ways here against a Famalicao side that are far from impressive at this moment.

In almost complete contrast, it has been something of a nightmare for Famalicao since they got back from the November international break, and they have been tumbling down the ranks almost week-on-week.

Fama's last match saw them play out a disappointing 2-2 draw at home to Chaves, who have been rooted to the bottom of the table for the majority of the first half of the season.

That result also marked Joao Pedro Sousa's side's sixth consecutive game without a win, including three draws and three losses, while they were also sent packing from the Taca de Portugal, beaten 2-0 by Benfica at the end of November.

Unfortunately, the visitors will struggle to gain much confidence from their away record this season, with seven points taken in as many matches, while they have failed to win on the road since the opening week of the campaign.

Famalicao did beat this opponent 1-0 last season and will need to find a similar performance here, or they could find themselves slipping as low as 12th place if they lose and other results do not go their way.

Casa Pia Primeira Liga form:

L

W

L

W

L

W

Casa Pia form (all competitions):

L

W

L

W

L

W

Famalicao Primeira Liga form:

D

L

D

D

L

D

Famalicao form (all competitions):

L

L

D

D

L

D

Advert - content below:

Team News

Felippe Cardoso was excellent, slotting away two goals last week against Moreirense, and he should retain his place in the frontline alongside Brazilian strike partner Clayton.

Kiki is the only listed absentee for the hosts in this match and is still several weeks away from returning to first-team action, while Beni is away representing Angola at the African Cup of Nations.

Gustavo Assuncao will be eligible to return for Famalicao in this match, having served his one-match ban for an accumulation of yellow cards in the first half of the season.

Otavio was left out in last week's 2-2 draw against Chaves and could return to the defence in this one, which should see Justin de Haas drop to the bench as a result.

Casa Pia possible starting lineup:

Batista; Larrazabal, Nunes, Zolotic, Lelo; Dias, Neto, Justo, Soma; Cardoso, Clayton

Famalicao possible starting lineup:

Junior; Nathan, Mihaj, Otavio, Moura; Youssouf, Topic; Fonseca, Sa, Chiquinho; Cadiz

We say: Casa Pia 2-1 Famalicao

Famalicao cannot seem to buy a win right now and have been conceding with regularity in recent weeks. On the other hand, based on their performances over the last month, it feels as though something positive is brewing for Casa Pia under new leadership, and they will be determined to start the first of their back-to-back home games with three points. We are backing the hosts to come out on top in this one.

Previews by email

Top News

14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England moved to the top of their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League group on Thursday evening courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Greece. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Didier Deschamps was left frustrated on Thursday as his France side failed to capitalise on their dominance against Israel, being held to a 0-0 draw, though they still progressed to the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals after Italy beat Belgium in the other League A Group 2 fixture. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England have risen to the top of Group 2 of League B in the UEFA Nations League courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Greece in Athens on Thursday night. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sandro Tonali's first international goal was enough to send Italy through to the finals of the UEFA Nations League courtesy of a 1-0 win away in Belgium this evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea Women and Manchester City Women will go head-to-head in Saturday's top-of-the-table clash at Stamford Bridge. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola has asked Manchester City to sign two defenders in 2025, according to a report. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Nassr centre-back Aymeric Laporte has said that he is open to making the move to Real Madrid. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco has said that his club are not planning to be active during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Moldova can boost their hopes of securing promotion from League D Group 2 in the UEFA Nations League when they face fellow European minnows Andorra at Estadi Nacional on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Montenegro welcome Iceland to Stadion Kraj Bistrice in Niksic for their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal Women and Tottenham Hotspur Women will be looking to secure derby bragging rights when they face off in Saturday's Women's Super League clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nacho has ruled out the possibility of returning to Real Madrid amid suggestions that Los Blancos were considering making an attempt to re-sign him during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams with contrasting objectives in the National League are set to meet at the Gateshead International Stadium on Saturday, as promotion hopefuls Gateshead host relegation-threatened Aldershot Town. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim will reportedly take Manchester United training for the first time on Monday, with the club confident that his visa will have arrived in time for him to officially get on the grass next week. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has said that a back issue forced Lisandro Martinez to pull out of the squad for the national team's upcoming 2026 World Cup qualification matches with Paraguay and Peru. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has reportedly set his sights on an exit from the club next summer, and plans to take key man Alex Grimaldo with him. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together at the top of League C Group 1 with two games to play, Sweden and Slovakia will battle it out to take the outright lead when they meet on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal will reportedly allow out-of-favour defender Jakub Kiwior to leave the club on loan in January. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wales travel to the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri to face Turkey in their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Pablo Torre has not ruled out the possibility of leaving the club in January, after seeing his game time reduced recently. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to narrow their gap to the top two in the League One table with a third consecutive victory, Barnsley will visit the Abbey Stadium to take on Cambridge United on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Isak has delivered a fresh update on his future at Newcastle United, amid reported interest from a number of clubs including Arsenal. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United Women will attempt to claim back-to-back victories when they travel to the Broadfield Stadium for Saturday's Women's Super League meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion Women. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma have confirmed the appointment of 73-year-old Claudio Ranieri as their new first-team manager until the end of the season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has revealed that he was "desperate" to join Chelsea in 2022. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal could rival Manchester City and Liverpool for the signature of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly weighing up whether to make a move for in-form PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As exquisite as Pedro Neto's equaliser was, the Portuguese's 20-yard leveller for Chelsea in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal was arguably more to do with the Gunners' uncharacteristic defensive failings. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly made a decision over whether they will pursue a move for Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian has revealed that he will continue with his education even after completing a big-money transfer to Chelsea.