Estoril Praia will visit Estadio Municipal de Rio Maior to take on Casa Pia, with the aim of picking up valuable points to increase their survival chances.
With seven games left to go in the season, the hosts are currently on 30 points and are in ninth place in the league standings, while the visitors are in 14th place with 28 points.
Match preview
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Casa Pia have seen a change of leadership this season with Goncalo Santos taking over in mid-February after Pedro Moreira was sacked. The 37-year-old, who took charge when the team were in 16th, began his reign with consecutive victories in his first two games, but went winless in the next three, including back-to-back defeats against Estrela and Benfica before the international break.
However, Os Gansos returned to winning ways last time out with a 4-0 victory over Vizela at Estadio do Vizela, courtesy of a brace from Felippe Cardoso and one goal each from Neto and Gaizka Larrazabal.
With four clean sheets in six league matches under Santos, Casa Pia have been defensively solid and this has been the backbone of their rise under the new manager before they showed some ruthlessness in front of goal last time out.
Os Gansos have been better on the road this season and are a top-half side in terms of away records, with 20 points taken from 14 games. However, they have been poor at home, managing only 10 points in 13 games, which is the second-worst record in the division.
With just seven points separating Casa Pia from 16th-placed Portimonense, who currently occupy the relegation playoff spot, a win against Estoril on Monday is much-needed.
The hosts have never won in nine meetings between both sides, losing seven times and drawing two. In three top-flight meetings, Casa Pia have lost twice and drawn once.
Estoril Praia recorded a massive 1-0 victory over Porto last weekend, making it two wins in a row after scraping a 1-0 victory over fellow strugglers Portimonense on March 15th, increasing their chances of survival.
Following a goalless first half, 34-year-old striker Cassiano, who has now scored in their last two wins, came up trumps for the Canaries, four minutes after Porto's goalkeeper Diogo Costa was sent off. It was a tense affair as the visitors were reduced to nine men when Francisco Conceicao received a second yellow card while Estoril also finished the game with ten men after Bernardo Vital received his marching orders.
Vasco Seabra's men were on a five-match winless run, losing four and claiming one draw before bouncing back with victories in their last two matches, leaving them five points ahead of the relegation playoff spot and seven points above the drop zone.
Estoril are the highest-scoring side in the bottom 11 but their porous defence has let them down, with only four teams conceding more goals than them in the entire league. However, clean sheets in their last two matches will leave Seabra with some confidence in his backline heading into the last seven matches.
Team News
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Casa Pia will be without Duplexe Tchamba for this match following his red card after two bookable offences against Vizela.
In terms of injuries, Kiki Silva is the only player sidelined for this game, although he has missed the majority of games this season already and is expected to remain sidelined for the remainder of the campaign as well.
A front three of Cardoso, Nuno Moreira and Pablo Roberto is expected once again when the hosts line up on Monday.
Scottish midfielder Jordan Holsgrove remains a doubt for this clash after sustaining a muscle injury in the 2-1 loss against Braga on January 27.
Experienced defender Erick Cabaco is, however, ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering an Achilles tendon injury last September.
Vital will also miss this match after his red card in the win over Porto, leaving room for Raul Parra to play from the start.
Casa Pia possible starting lineup:
Batista; Zolotic, Varela, Nunes; Larrazabal, Segovia, Neto, Lelo; Roberto Moreira, Cardoso
Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:
Carne; Parra, Basso, Alvaro; Pina, Fernandes, Zanocelo, Gomes; Guitane, Cassiano, Tavares
We say: Casa Pia X-Y Estoril Praia
Casa Pia aim to end their winless streak against Estoril and will feel like this is the perfect time to do so. However, their poor home form leaves a lot of doubts on that. Meanwhile, Estoril have also dug deep in their last two matches, showing the steely side. We expect a close match, possibly a draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
