RIO MAIOR, Portugal — FC Porto set to clash with Casa Pia on April 12, 2025, at Municipal Stadium of Rio Maior in a crucial Liga Portugal encounter.
Desperate for points after a humiliating 4-1 defeat against Benfica, Porto sits in fourth place with 56 points, trailing third-place Braga and 12 points off the league leaders, Benfica. Coach Anselmi knows that a victory is critical to keep their title hopes alive.
“We no fit afford another slip-up. We dey fight to stay in top three. This match dey crucial for us,” Anselmi said in a pre-match conference.
For Casa Pia, the team holds the eighth position with 40 points and is eager to improve on their record. They come into the match with a mixed form — one win, one draw, and one loss in their last three outings. Coach Ricardo Soares highlighted the need to capitalize on their home advantage.
“We don dey play well for home, and we get belief for this game. Our players don dey ready to take the fight to Porto,” Soares commented.
Historically, Porto has dominated matches against Casa Pia, winning nine out of the ten meetings. Their recent form shows four victories in the last four confrontations, including a convincing 2-0 win in their previous match this season.
This time around, Porto will miss injured players Vasco Sousa and Marko Grujić. Their absence is expected to test the depth of Porto’s squad. Players like João Mário and Gonçalo Borges are expected to step up.
For Casa Pia, they will be without key players Clau Mendes, Kiki Silva, and Duplexe Tchamba, all nursing injuries. However, the team will rely on striker Cassiano, who has been a pivotal player this season.
Statistics show both teams have different approaches on the field. Porto has a possession rate of 54.8% this season, while Casa Pia stands at 45.2%. This disparity could influence the game dynamic as Porto tends to control the midfield better.
In terms of attacking prowess, both teams have their sharpshooters — Samuel Omorodion leads Porto’s attack with 16 goals, while Cassiano follows closely with nine for Casa Pia. This match promises to witness a clash of talents on the pitch.
The last time these teams met, Porto secured the win, but the players know Casa Pia won’t be an easy opponent, especially playing at home where they’ve recorded four wins from five matches.
The excitement is already building up ahead of the 3:30 PM ET kick-off, and supporters are hopeful for a thrilling encounter that could impact the league standings significantly.
