Casa Pia welcome Gil Vicente to the Portuguese capital for the latest round of Primeira Liga matches on Sunday evening.
Filipe Martins's side occupy the final Europa League Conference position, while the Gilistas remain a solitary point above the relegation playoff position.
Match preview
© Reuters
Casa Pia currently sit in fifth position in the Primeira Liga standings, on course to make their first-ever appearance in a UEFA-designated tournament.
Filipe Martins's side have struggled in the league at the Estadio Pina Manique this season, compared to flourishing on their travels, with a 63% win rate. However, the Geese have still been victorious in half of their 16 matches, despite scoring the joint-second lowest home goals - five - across the division.
Promoted from Liga Portugal 2 after the conclusion of the 2021-22 season, the capital-based outfit must be considered one of the surprise footballing packages of the current campaign.
Casa Pia progressed to the quarter-finals of the Taca de Portugal on January 12 following a 1-0 victory at Vitoria but suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Estoril Praia four days later.
Sunday's fixture will be the maiden encounter at the Estadio Pina Manique, with the only other historical head-to-head encounter between the two teams taking place in October 2016 when Gil Vicente emerged victorious on penalties in the Portuguese Cup.
Aiming to replicate their success six years on from when they first set eyes on one another, Daniel Sousa's side make the expedition to the capital in a precarious position in the standings.
Flirting with the prospect of playing outside the pinnacle of Portuguese football for the first time in five years, Gil Vicente have only tasted victory once on their travels across the current Primeira Liga campaign.
Victorious over Santa Clara in their last match of 2022, Sousa's side began the new year in less-than-ideal fashion after suffering a 1-0 defeat against Boavista on January 8, despite the hosts playing the final quarter-hour of the match with 10 men.
Despite defeat in their opening contest of 2023, Sousa's side will make the footballing expedition to Lisbon with a spring in their boots following a notable 2-1 victory over Vitoria de Guimaraes at the Estadio Pina Manique on Monday.
Team News
Casa Pia manager Filipe Martin could contemplate changing his starting XI that began the match against Estoril Praia on Monday, following their struggles in the final third at the Estadio Pina Manique this season.
After coming on as a second-half substitute on Monday, midfielder Carlos Miguel could come into the Geese's 11 from the off.
The hosts will, however, be without forward Clayton following the Brazilian's red card at the beginning of the week, with Rafael Martins expected to deputise for his compatriot.
On the back of witnessing his side emerge victorious against European qualification candidates Vitoria de Guimaraes, Gil Vicente boss Daniel Sousa could name an unchanged lineup for this weekend's clash.
If that is to be the case, Murilo Costa, Kanya Fujimoto and Ali Alipour will again start as an attacking trio behind top scorer Fran Navarro.
Casa Pia possible starting lineup:
Batista; Bolgado, Fernandes, Nunes; Soares, Neto, Brice, Lelo, Cuca; Martins, Antoine
Gil Vicente possible starting lineup:
Kritsyuk; Carraca, Cunha, Araujo, Marin; Carvalho, Aburjania; Alipour, Fujimoto, Costa; Navarro
We say: Casa Pia 2-1 Gil Vicente
On course to make their maiden appearance in a UEFA-organised competition across the club's 102-year history, we predict that Casa Pia will take one step closer to their end-of-season aim with three points at the Estadio Pina Manique on Sunday evening.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
