Casa Pia faces a crucial home fixture against bottom-placed AVS, aiming for their first league victory at Estadio Pina Manique this season. This encounter on matchday 19 of the Primeira Liga is vital for both teams as they fight to escape relegation.
Alvaro Pacheco, the new Casa Pia head coach, seeks his inaugural win after a challenging start away to champions Sporting Lisbon. His tenure began with a 3-0 defeat, adding to the team’s growing list of league losses. Casa Pia has struggled to find consistent form, with only one win in their last eleven top-flight matches, placing them in the relegation playoff zone.
What is the current league standing for Casa Pia and AVS?
Casa Pia currently occupies a relegation playoff spot in the Primeira Liga, three points adrift of safety. AVS, on the other hand, remains at the bottom of the table, with fourteen losses and only four draws from eighteen matches, leaving them thirteen points from safety./https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F32%2Fcasa-pia.jpg)
The “Geese,” as Casa Pia is known, have been hampered by offensive and defensive frailties, scoring only seventeen goals while conceding thirty-five. Pacheco’s immediate task is to address these issues, especially in his first home game in charge. Despite recent away struggles, a return to Pina Manique offers a glimmer of hope, as they managed a clean sheet in their last home outing against Vitoria de Guimaraes.
However, that goalless draw extended Casa Pia’s winless streak at home to eight league games this season, and nine across all competitions. This home form needs a significant turnaround if they are to secure their league status./https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F20%2F33%2Fsm-words-green-background.png)
AVS, despite some positive moments in the Portuguese Cup, has had a dismal league campaign. Their fourteen losses are the most in the division, coupled with a league-low eleven goals scored and a league-high forty-four conceded. Discipline has also been a concern, as evidenced by a red card in their recent match against Arouca, which proved costly in a 1-0 defeat.
Joao Henriques, the AVS manager, faces the daunting task of shoring up a leaky defense and finding attacking solutions. Historically, AVS has struggled against Casa Pia, remaining winless in their last three encounters, including a 2-0 loss in the reverse fixture.
Team news adds another layer of complexity. Casa Pia’s veteran defender Jose Fonte is a doubt after being forced off last weekend. New signing Clau Mendes is suspended after a late red card. Kaique Rocha and Duplexe Tchamba are sidelined with injuries, while Andre Geraldes and Yassin Oukili are questionable.
For AVS, Guillem Molina continues his recovery from a leg injury, and Tiago Galletto might miss another match. New signing Roni is a doubt after limping off, and Gustavo Assuncao could also be unavailable. The team will also be without centre-back Cristian Devenish due to suspension, and midfielder Jaume Grau will serve a one-match ban.
Casa Pia possible starting lineup: Sequeira; Kaly, Sousa, Goulart; Larrazabal, Brito, Nhaga, Conte; Livolant, Cassiano, Nsona.
AVS possible starting lineup: Adriel; Spencer, Semedo, Ponck, Kiki; Algobia, Mendonca; Akinsola, P Lima, Perea; Tomane.
Despite both teams’ struggles, Casa Pia appears better positioned to capitalize on their home advantage and a stronger head-to-head record against an AVS side facing challenges across the board. The hosts are therefore favored to secure a vital victory in this relegation battle.
