Casa Pia and Santa Clara face off with each other in the Portugal Primeira Liga round 20 match at the Estadio de Sao Miguel on Saturday.
Os Gansos enter the weekend position as a top-tier performing team in the division while they fight to reach European qualification positions. The domestic side will search for their second victory since December.
The Santa Clara team produced a strong defensive performance during the last weekend by drawing 1-1 with Porto at the Estadio do Dragao.
With only a 22% lead in ball control and facing one player below strength Santa Clara took a first lead through Gabriel Silva in the 33rd minute before Otavio scored with 14 minutes remaining to earn Porto their draw.
Despite facing Porto with dignity Vasco Matos directs pride toward his team but his squad remains winless in their recent three games and secured a sole triumph from seven matches played since their successful four-match run.
A dip in performance led to Os Acorianos losing to Sporting Lisbon by a 2-1 score beyond regulation time on December 18 for the Taca de Portugal elimination.
Besides two draws and ten victories Santa Clara lost seven Primeira Liga matches this season to reach fifth place in the standings with a total of 32 points.
While Arouca hopes to escape the danger zone, they will need to be at their best at the Estadio da Madeira, having lost all but one of their seven away games since late September.
Nacional is still without the services of Spanish midfielder Miguel Baeza, who has been out since October due to a muscular ailment.
Pedro Moreira is also working his way back to full health after suffering a serious injury in April 2024, and the 35-year-old midfielder will miss this weekend's game.
Angel Di Maria scored from the penalty spot to give Benfica a 14th-minute lead, but Os Gansos quickly responded with goals from Cassiano, Moreira, and Livolant, turning the game on its head.
Joao Pereira's team has now gone seven consecutive matches without defeat in the Primeira Liga, winning five and drawing two since losing 2-0 against Porto on December 2 at the Estadio do Dragao.
Casa Pia's turnaround has been attributed to a strong performance in attack, where they have scored 15 goals in their last seven games while conceding seven.
