Amadora Star vs Casa Pia – News and Probable Lineups

On Friday, Estadio Jose Gomes will witness a clash between two teams positioned near the bottom of the Primeira Liga table, as Estrela Amadora welcomes Casa Pia for the first match of matchday 27.

The teams are separated by just one point, with the Riboleira club currently in 14th place, while their opponents sit directly below them, two points clear of the relegation playoff position, though they have a game in hand.

Match overview

Estrela has fought hard to remain in the Primeira Liga during the 2024-25 season. However, a decline in performance during the second half of the season has brought them closer to the relegation zone, finishing two points above the playoff cutoff.

Continuing their struggle this season, the Tricolores have averaged around 1.1 points per game from matchday one to 17, but have slipped to just 0.67 points per game over their past nine fixtures, with Nacional being the only team to record fewer points (five) during this span compared to Amadora’s six.

Currently, they are on a five-match winless streak, suffering a 2-1 loss to Rio Ave last weekend, where Rodrigo Pinho’s 65th-minute goal was merely a consolation after falling two goals behind.

This loss adds to their defensive woes, as Estrela has conceded two goals in four of their last five matches, bringing their total goals conceded in the league to 45, with only Arouca allowing more among teams outside the relegation zone.

In addition to their defensive issues, Estrela has found it difficult to secure wins at home, claiming only one victory in their last six league home matches, leaving head coach Joao Nuno Rodrigues Carromeu with significant challenges ahead in their battle for survival.

While the home side has struggled during the season’s latter stages, Casa Pia has shown some improvement, a development that coincided with the hiring of head coach Alvaro Pacheco in January.

Even though Pacheco lost his initial match in charge against Sporting Lisbon on matchday 18, he has managed to gather 10 points from eight league fixtures, surpassing the performance of his predecessors, as Joao Pereira got eight points from the first 10 games, while Goncalo Brandao earned six points in seven matches during his stint as interim head coach.

This improvement has helped them climb out of the relegation zone; however, the Geese have not won any of their last three games (D2, L1), starting with a 2-0 loss to Famalicao, followed by draws with Moreirense (1-1) and Estoril Praia (0-0).

Having had their matchday 26 fixture against Braga postponed, Casa Pia approaches this game with added rest and looks to secure a favorable outcome, drawing confidence from their recent victory on their visit to Estrela, although they suffered a 5-3 loss in the earlier matchup this season.

As the Geese seek to avoid a second double defeat in this series of matches, there are concerns regarding their away form, having suffered three losses in their last five away games (D2) and failing to score in the latest four of those outings.

Team News

Estrela will be missing forward Sydney van Hooijdonk and right-back Jefferson Encada, both of whom have been sidelined with injuries.

Bernardo Schappo’s involvement is uncertain after missing the last two matches, while centre-back Stefan Lekovic could miss another game.

On the other hand, Casa Pia will not have Kiki Silva due to his ongoing recovery from a knee issue, and Kelian Nsona is likely to miss a sixth consecutive match.

Lawrence Ofori’s status is also questionable following his absence from the last two games, but centre-back David Sousa returns after serving a suspension.

Estrela Amadora probable starting XI:

Ribeiro; Scholze, Patrick, Lekovic, Langa; Jansson, Moreira; Marcus, Stoica, Jovane; Pine

Casa Pia probable starting XI:

Sequeira; SOUZA, G Silva, Kaly; Larrazabal, Perez, Brito, Conte; Livolant, Cassiano, Osundina

Head coach Pacheco has a positive track record against Estrela from his tenure at Vitoria de Guimaraes, but his current squad does not appear sufficiently convincing away from home to secure three points in this match.

As the hosts also grapple with inconsistency and neither side has demonstrated sufficient attacking prowess, this contest may see both teams neutralize each other, with a draw being the most probable outcome.