The action continues in round 18 of the Primeira Liga as Casa Pia welcome SC Farense to the Estadio Pina Manique in their second home game of the year on Saturday.

Having lost each of the last four meetings between the sides, the Leoes de Faro will head into the weekend looking to get one over the hosts and pick up their first win on the road since November.

Match preview

Casa Pia continue to struggle for results on home turf as they suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Famalicao when the sides squared off last Saturday.

In a game where Ricardo Batista received his marching orders, Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Chiquinho netted on the stroke of half time to put the visitors in front before Jhonder Cadiz put the result beyond reach with a 66th-minute effort.

Casa Pia have now lost four of their last five home games and currently hold the division's poorest home record, having picked up just five points from their eight matches at the Estadio Pina Manique.

Having finished 10th in the Primeira Liga last term, Pedro Moreira's men have fared decently this season, picking up 19 points from 17 matches to sit 10th in the table, two points and two places below this weekend's visitors.

Casa Pia will fancy their chances of returning to winning ways this weekend as they take on a Farnese side who have lost each of their last four encounters, conceding eight goals and scoring just once since a 2-0 win in January 2020.

Returning to the top flight after a two-year absence, Farense can feel satisfied with their performance so far as they sit in the top half of the table, six points above the danger zone heading into the business end of the season.

Jose Mota's side head into the weekend fresh off the back of suffering their first defeat of the year as they were beaten 1-0 by Portimonense at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao last Friday.

Farense were forced to pay for their lack of cutting edge at the attacking edge of the pitch yet again as Carlinhos converted from the spot in the second half to hand Paulo Sergio's men all three points.

The Leoes de Faro had kicked off the new year on a positive note as they picked up a 1-0 victory over Gil Vicente at the Estadio de Sao Luis on January 6 to bring their run of four league games without a win to an end.

Farense, who have failed to find the back of the net in three of their last four outings, head into the weekend without a win in three consecutive away matches, picking up one point from a possible nine since a 3-1 victory at Boavista on November 12.

Team News

Casa Pia will have to cope without the services of midfielder Beni Mukendi, who is currently away with the Angola national team at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.

On the injury front, Os Gansos will be without 25-year-old forward Kiki Silva, who continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering an Achilles tendon injury last March.

First-choice goalkeeper Batista is set to serve the first of a three-game suspension after picking up a straight red card against Famalicao last time out and will also play no part in Saturday's game.

In his absence, Lucas Paes should come into the fray, while we expect an unchanged back four of Leonardo Lelo, Joao Nunes, Nermin Zolotic and Spanish right-back Gaizka Larrazabal.

As for Farense, Mota will be unable to name midfielder John Jairo Velasquez, who continues his long road to full fitness after picking up a severe knee injury in December 2022.

Cape Verde international Ze Luis has missed each of the Leoes de Faro's last eight matches through a shoulder problem and is also out of contention for this weekend's tie.

Casa Pia possible starting lineup:
Paes; Larrazabal, Nunes, Zolotic, Lelo; Dias, Neto, Brito, Roberto; Clayton, Cardoso

SC Farense possible starting lineup:
Velho; Delgado, Silva, Muscat, Talocha; Diallo, Isidoro; Belloumi, Mattheus, Matias; Duarte

We say: Casa Pia 2-1 SC Farense

Casa Pia and Farense suffered their first defeats of the year last weekend and will both be looking to bounce back at the Estadio Pina Manique. Casa Pia's home advantage gives them a slight edge and we fancy them to extend their winning streak against Mota's men.

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