Casa Pia vs Nacional

</h2> <h3>Early Season Encounter Promises Goals at Rio Maior</h3> Casa Pia welcomes CD Nacional to the Estádio Municipal de Rio Maior on Friday evening in what promises to be a fascinating early-season encounter between two sides still searching for their identity in the 2025-26 Primeira Liga campaign. <h4>Form Guide Reveals Surprising Away Strengths</h4> The most intriguing subplot heading into this fixture centers around both teams' unexpected preference for away fixtures. Casa Pia, sitting 10th with three points, have collected all their points on the road with an impressive 2-0 victory over AVS, while enduring a goal-less home defeat to Sporting CP and a chastening 4-0 reverse at FC Porto. Nacional's struggles have been even more pronounced at their Madeira fortress, where they've shipped six goals in two games against Gil Vicente (0-2) and Sporting CP (1-4), managing just a solitary strike from Léo Santos in the latter fixture. However, their away form tells a different story entirely, with a creditable 1-1 draw at Rio Ave where Jesús Ramírez's 83rd-minute equalizer demonstrated their resilience when traveling. <h4>Defensive Frailties Create Attacking Opportunities</h4> Nacional's defensive record makes for concerning reading, with Lucas França's goal conceded tally standing at seven from just three appearances. The Brazilian shot-stopper has been busy, making 10 saves, but his defensive colleagues have left him consistently exposed. Particularly worrying is their complete inability to maintain clean sheets, a statistic that could prove decisive against a Casa Pia side desperate to find their scoring touch at home. Casa Pia's home attacking struggles are equally pronounced, with the hosts failing to register a single goal in their lone Rio Maior appearance this season. However, their away exploits suggest the attacking talent exists within Filipe Martins' squad, with Korede Osundina and Duplexe Bangou both finding the net in that confidence-boosting win over AVS. <h4>Key Player Battles</h4> The striking duel between Casa Pia's American forward Osundina and Nacional's Venezuelan target man Ramírez could prove pivotal. Osundina, 21, has shown glimpses of his potential with three shots across his appearances, while the more experienced Ramírez brings physical presence and clinical finishing, evidenced by his crucial away equalizer at Rio Ave. In midfield, Casa Pia will look to French playmaker Jérémy Livolant to provide the creative spark, with the 27-year-old already registering one assist and drawing eight fouls in three appearances. Nacional's Brazilian contingent of Liziero and Matheus Dias must establish control if the visitors are to exploit Casa Pia's home uncertainties. <h4>Tactical Considerations</h4> Nacional's away approach has proven more compact, conceding just once in their single away fixture compared to six goals in two home games. This suggests tactical flexibility from the coaching staff that could serve them well in Rio Maior. Casa Pia's home struggles may prompt a more aggressive approach from the hosts, potentially creating the space that Nacional's pacey attackers thrive in. <h4>Weather and Atmosphere</h4> Perfect playing conditions are forecast for Friday's encounter, with clear skies and warm temperatures expected. The neutral atmosphere may actually favor Nacional, removing some of the traditional home advantage that Casa Pia have yet to capitalize on this season. <h4>The Verdict</h4> With both sides displaying defensive vulnerabilities and a tendency toward open, attacking football, goals appear inevitable in this encounter. Nacional's complete inability to keep clean sheets, combined with Casa Pia's home goal drought, suggests a match where the first goal could prove decisive given both teams' contrasting responses to taking or conceding early leads. The odds reflecting a tight encounter seem justified, but the underlying statistics point toward a game where Nacional's superior away form and Casa Pia's home struggles could produce a surprise result in the Portuguese capital region.