Porto will host Casa Pia at the Estadio do Dragao on Monday, with the home side looking to bounce back from a disappointing run of results. Despite being second in the table with 27 points from 11 matches, Porto have struggled recently, suffering a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of rivals Benfica and then returning to action with a deflating 2-1 defeat to Moreirense in the Taca de Portugal. This downturn in form has brought about a renewed sense of urgency for the Dragons, who are eager to get back on track and assert their dominance against Casa Pia.
The visitors, on the other hand, have had mixed results this season and are well on course for consecutive mid-table finishes. They played out a 1-1 draw against last-placed Farense in their last league outing, falling behind in the opening 10 minutes of the contest before Cassiano leveled the scores from the spot later in the half. Casa Pia’s recent form has been marked by resilience, with the team remaining undefeated in their last five matches and losing just one of their last 10. However, their trip to the Estadio do Dragao promises to be a challenging one, given Porto’s impressive head-to-head record against them.
Porto have won seven of the eight meetings between the two sides, with the lone draw occurring in 2014. The hosts have also won their last three games in this fixture, and are undefeated in their last five against Casa Pia. This suggests that the team from Porto is well-equipped to dominate the game and come out on top. Furthermore, Porto’s attacking prowess has been on full display this season, with the team scoring 28 goals in the Primeira Liga. This makes them a formidable opponent for Casa Pia, who may struggle to contain their attacking endeavors.
In contrast, Casa Pia have managed just one clean sheet in all seven of their games in this fixture. This lack of defensive stability could prove to be a major issue for the visitors, particularly given Porto’s attacking form. However, Casa Pia’s recent resurgence has seen them pick up crucial points, and they will be eager to take advantage of any defensive lapses to get on the scoresheet.
