Casa Pia v Sporting CP
Casa Pia v Sporting CP
Friday October 30th, 2026
Estádio Municipal de Rio Maior
Matchday 10
The warm up
Since the two clubs met in January of this year the Geese, better known as Casa Pia Atlético Clube, have new owners. They were acquired by the Krause Group from previous owner Robert Platek. They're a US firm led by American billionaire Kyle Krause. We'll add his name to the list of billionaire owners of Portuguese clubs alongside Evangelos Marinakis at Rio Ave and Idan Ofer at FC Famalicão who we've already focused on in previous Matchday posts this season. The purchase means that Casa Pia are now part of a multi club ownership model alongside Serie A side Parma Calcio 1913 and Des Moines Menace in the US. I cannot confess to having heard of the latter but I did watch Parma get beaten by Inter 3-0 at dinner time if that counts for anything? It's fair to suggest that Parma don't carry the prestige they once did in their heyday although let's caveat that with a big asterisk given their legal and financial issues which fuelled them.
Krause is an OG Nepo baby, a term I've never written before and one I'm sure he would not appreciate in the slightest but if the shoe fits, wear it. His career began with Kum & Go, a convenience store chain founded by his grandfather and father. Also the punchline to an incredibly rude joke. Krause served as President & CEO from 2009 to 2018. Alongside the investment in football teams his business portfolio includes wineries, hospitality and real estate. Far be it for me to suggest he's somewhat clichéd.
Fair play to the man though he is described as a dedicated philanthropist whereas some would describe Marinakis at Rio Ave as a despot. I mean I wouldn't describe him as such given his current penchant for suing people for liable but some people might and more fool them for doing something so slanderous. The Krause Group is committed to donating at least 10% of annual profits to community initiatives which to me reads - tax dodge. Just saying. He continues the fine family tradition of nepotism through his son Oliver who serves on the board of Parma.
No official price was reported for the fee paid to purchase the club but speculation online suggests it was around the €25m mark. That might not sound like much but if you're new to Portuguese football it should be noted that the club's origin stems from the Portuguese charity foundation Casa Pia de Lisboa, which is now run as a public institution for child and youth welfare by the Portuguese state. The football club still maintains links to the original charity, albeit that the relationship is now primarily symbolic and social rather than operational or financial.
Their ground the Estádio Pina Manique, is named after the charity's 18th-century founder. However owing to it not meeting the basic safety standards required for Portuguese top-flight football they've been forced to play elsewhere and home currently is the Estádio Municipal de Rio Maior. Those with sharp eyes and minds will have noticed the word Lisboa above which means technically this game is a Dérbi although if you want to be pendantic you can add an asterisk, whatever floats your boat.
I've written extensively on the history of the club in past posts so you can use the labels to navigate this site if you want to learn more but as an abbreviated history they were founded by students of Casa Pia de Lisboa as a natural extension to the schools football team. The club still actively promotes the values of the public institution and I won't lie, between me and you, I do have a bit of a soft spot for them. Their full history is fascinating stuff including their links to the Supertaça and spies in WWII. I won't spoil it for you here.
Last season was frankly a shit show for the geese and they circled the drain right up until the last moment and ultimately finished third bottom which put them in the relegation playoffs. Unlike the lions they did manage to see off Liga 2 Torreense over two legs which secured their top flight status for another season at least. For the longest time this season they were bottom of the pile until they finally won their first game against fellow winless Estoril and leapfrogged them to trade places. The 2026/27 season does unfortunately look to become one of the worst on record with a glut of clubs at the bottom unable to pull away from each other with eight games played. However by law of averages someone will have to pick up some points at some point when they all start to play each other. That is I believe how football works but don't quote me because I read such nonsense on a daily basis from other fans that I'm starting to doubt myself owing to their stupidity.
Last seasons record when finishing 16th read played 34, won 6, drawn 12, lost 16, GF 31, GA 57. That was the same total goals conceded as Estoril who finished 10th and Rio Ave in 12th. Only Arouca in 8th (not a typo) and AVS in 18th conceded more times. At home played 17, won 2, drawn 9, lost 6, GF 18, GA 26. Away played 17, won 4, drawn 3, lost 10, GF 13, GA 31. Ironically that was enough to give them the leagues 11th best away record. If the xG table decided the league outcome then the lions would have won by 2 points whilst the Geese would have been relegated by 3 points and Moreirense would have been dragged into the playoff spot with Tondela as high as tenth. So there you go.
When the two sides last met in January it finished 3-0 to the lions at the Estádio José Alvalade. A first half brace from Geny and a second half goal from Bragança. Claudio Mendes saw red two minutes from time. They provided the lions first opponents way back in August and I think from memory that was the first game of any of the top flight clubs but don't quote me on that. I have a brain full of useless information but it doesn't mean it's always correct.
Trincão put the lions 1-0 up before half time and Hjulmand made it 2-0 just after the hour mark and that's how it stayed. Sporting have won all 8 games since the Geese came up including the 8-0 thumping under Ruben Amorim in January 2024.
Of their 31 goals scored last season 18 were from open play, 8 set pieces, 3 penalties and 2 own goals. Very true to their xG metric which was 31.3. Top scorers were Cassiano with 6, Larrazabal with 5 and Livolant with 3. Good news for the geese they did at least collectively outscore the lions Luis Suárez who finished with 28 to his name. Every cloud and all that. As you can probably guess they're close to bottom on most of the leagues metrics such as average goals scored per match - 0.9 in case you're interested. Seven clean sheets, fewest shots on target per match with 2.9, 36 Opta defined big chances missed, second lowest accurate passes completed. Five penalties awarded, second highest conceded with twelve joint with Estrela. Top for fouls per match with 16.1 per game which earned them the most bookings with a whopping 95.
At the time of writing they've played 8, won 1, drawn 1, lost 6. GF 3, GA 17. No points won at home after 4 games, scoring 1 and conceding 13. One goal each from open play, a set piece and a penalty. Pauwels, Clua and Araújo all with a goal apiece. Joint top for red cards with Estoril on 2 apiece. Second for clearances averaging 31.3 per match. Joint most penalties conceded with 2, same total penalties awarded and one clean sheet.
I've been killing coaches careers all season every time I write about them and we're only in October so apologies in advance to Filipe Coelho who took over in July. He was previously with Chelsea’s U21 setup and this his first foray into full time club management. Feels like a baptism of fire.
Defender João Goulart started his career with Sporting B but only made one first team appearance before moving to Mafra. Fellow defender André Geraldes was also with Sporting B. In midfield you've Abdu Conté who was also on the club books and up front the goalscoring machine that is Rochinha. I say goalscoring machine - 1 goal in 20 appearances. Those were however all for the starting XI before being swiftly sold as fast and he'd arrived the summer after.
Before the two sides meet they'll travel to Alpendorada in the Taça de Portugal and Estrela for matchday 9.
Summer Transfer Window
Incoming
Gabi Pereira - Felgueiras (Free)
Rochinha - Famalicão (Free)
Alassana Jatta - Notts County (Free)
Henrique Araújo - Benfica £1.1m
Selvi Clua - Almería (Loan)
André Gomes - Benfica B (Free)
João Pedro Murilo da Paula Morais - Vasco da Gama (Free)
Aymen Zouin - Parma (Loan)
João Goulart - CD Mafra (Free)
João Rego - Benfica (Loan)
Benjamin Pauwels - Leganés (Loan)
Evans Maurin - Grenoble (Free)
Mohamed El Boulammiri - Lommel £340,000
Felipe Silva - FC Porto (Loan)
Outgoing
Rafael Brito - Released
Gaizka Larrazabal - Released
Fahem Benaïssa-Yahia to Mantova (Free)
Kiki - Trofense (Free)
Max Svensson - Penafiel (Free)
Miguel Sousa - Leixôes (Free)
José Fonte - Retired
Ricardo Batista - Lusitano GC (Free)
Iyad Mohamed - Portsmouth (Free)
Raúl Blanco - Racing Ferrol (Free)
Kelian Wa Saka - Rodez £559,000
Korede Osundina - Muğlaspor (Loan)
Matchday 1 - Marítimo (A) 1-0 L
The home side opened the scoring in their first game back in the top flight following promotion. On the hour mark Tejón crossed perfectly from the left wing to find the head of Guzzo who guided it past André Gomes from the edge of the six yard box. It was a better finish than his celebration dance to Zombie Nation which needs some work. This proves to be the only goal of the game and consigned the Geese to their first loss of the season in a game I'm sure they'd have earmarked for all 3 points.
Xg 1.28 - 0.64
Total Attempts 16 - 9
Big chances 2 - 1
Big chances missed 1 - 1
Matchday 2 - Benfica (H) 0-7 L
A disastrous start for the geese just two minutes in. Prestianni struck a 20 yards shot towards the right of goal but it went straight at the defender Sousa who rather inexplicably tried to guide the ball out of play but instead sent the trajectory of the ball towards the other corner however André Gomes had committed to the original flight of the shot and could only turn to watch it enter his net for 1-0. His night would get far worse in fairness to him.
On 13’ (unlucky for some) Pavlidis set Rafa Silva free between two defenders which left him one on one with Gomes. His clipped shot from 7 yards saw Gomes spread himself low and wide to try stop the effort but in the end the ball flicked off his head and into the net for a second deflected goal. A minute later Gabi Pereira was left pounding the grass in frustration as he saw his effort sliding effort strike the left hand post from 8 yards out and go behind for a goal kick.
One piece of good news for the Geese - they went in at half time only 2-0 down. Straight after the break the geese totally capitulated. 1 minute 30 seconds on the clock Pavlidis as he fired his shot from 8 yards into the turf and it bounced over the onrushing Gomes to make it 3-0. Pérez with an inadvertent assist as the pass clipped off his heel and into the path of the Greek. Three goals, three deflections in one form or another leading to goals. They knew it wasn't going to be their night. Four minutes gone and the Greek twisted and turned his way into the box amongst a sea of black shirts and scored from roughly the penalty spot to make it 4-0. The Greek then completed his hat-trick in the space of 7 second half minutes when he turned in a cross from the right with one touch from 7 yards. 5-0. On 58' Dahl's attempted cutback deflects off Ofori and somehow from the narrowest and tightest of angles smuggles past Gomes at his near post to make it 6-0. At least any Famalicão defenders watching on would have felt better after the manner of the two goals they gave away on Matchday 2. Durán with probably the goal of the night on the hour mark made it 6-0 as he volleyed home into the bottom left hand corner for 7. No more goals but the night did get worse for the Geese and the Angolan Khaly in particular when he picked up his second booking a minute past the 90 for an accidental hand into the face of Prestianni who rather unsurprisingly did him like an absolute kipper clutching his face. The look of bemusement as everyone's favourite Portuguese referee João Pinheiro couldn't get his cards out quick enough. The Geese now sit bottom with Rio Ave leapfrogging them on GD.
xG 0.12 - 3.04
Total Attempts 3 - 20
Shots on target 0 - 8
Big Chances 1 - 5
Big Chances Missed 1 - 1
Matchday 3 - Gil Vicente (A) 2-0 L
A third straight defeat for the Geese leaves them bottom of the table and the only top flight side yet to win a single point.
On 19’ the aptly named Gil Martins put Gil Vicente 1-0 up as he raced clear of two defenders and clipped the ball over the onrushing André Gomes from the far corner of the six yard box. A quite literal head in hand moment on 21’ when an unmarked Araújo headed over from 6 yards. Big chance gone begging to equalise just two minutes after falling behind. Ofori was penalised for a handball on 42’ and a penalty was awarded. If felt like a hit and hope cross from Lausen and there was certainly no intent on the part of the defender but his arm was out and away from his body. Héctor Hernández made it 2-0 on 44’ with a coolly struck penalty into the bottom right hand corner. On 84’ the roosters goalkeeper Lucão used his body well to block a Claudio Mendes effort from a tight angle to the left of the six yard box. In the end they were left to run that early miss from Araújo. If nothing else a vast improvement on the 7-0 home defeat last time out.
xG 1.74 - 0.76
Total attempts 8 - 15
Shots on target 4 - 2
Big chances 3 - 1
Big chances missed 1 - 1
Matchday 4 - Moreirense (H) 0-1 L
Casa Pia's search for their first points of the campaign continues as they lost to a single goal, but what a goal. I imagine you'd be hard pressed to find a better goal all season in Portugal despite the fact we're only four rounds in. Kiko it was with the winner on 23 minutes with a rabona from 18 yards into the top right hand corner. Jatta came close to the equaliser on 57' as he slid in at the back post. His connection 3 yards out went back across goal and it the far post and rebounded to safety. They hit the post again on 78' when a cross from the egde of the far side of the area evaded everyone without anyone getting a touch and somehow the visitors scrambled the ball clear. At that point they must have known it wasn't going to be their day.
xG 0.77 to 0.28
Total attempts 14 - 6
Shots on target 2 - 5
Big chances 1 - 2
Big chances missed 1 - 2
Matchday 5 - Vitória (A) 0-0 D
Whilst Casa Pia may still be waiting to score their first goal of the season, they have at least now recorded their first point on the campaign with 5 games played but remain bottom. They are by no means adrift despite their dreadful start. Depending on how Académico Viseu get on in the last game, from tenth place down every side would have 4 points or less if the newly promoted side lose or draw. I thought last season was a poor competition but this one is being taken to new levels.
The Geese may have thought here we go again when on 25' their keeper Gomes pulled up in pain after kicking a ball clear and had to be carried off on a stretcher and replaced by Mandic. On 33' Sousa connected with a corner with what appeared to be his left shoulder and the ball hit the left hand post of Vitória's goal and away to safety. On 35' the home side stole the ball back in the final third which sent Samu through one on one with Mandic. Good work from the Croatian who remained stationary two yards inside his box and Samu fired straight at him from the edge of the area. One for the ASMR fans on 45' as Doucet's shot from 18 yards clanks off the left hand post and to safety and some how the visitiors went in still level at 0-0.
52' Silva's free kick from 20 yards came off the cross bar and out for a goalkick to the Geese. 77' and a long clearance from the edge of their own 18 yard box was run onto by Silva who carried the ball into the Casa Pia box leaving him one on one with Mandic who again chose to stay positioned and like a jedi master saw Silva's effort from 16 yards come too close to him which allowed him to get down to his right and pull off a fantastic save. We were on 96:56 when Ouotro thought he was about to secure all 3 points when his flick with the inside of his boot from a yard out was hoofed clear inches from the goal line to secure the point for the visitors. Their defenders in fairness had left it all out on the pitch and were dropping to their knees in added on time to catch their breathes.
xG 2.48 to 0.21
Total attempts 29 - 7
Shots on target 8 - 3
Big chances 4 - 0
Big chances missed 4 - 0
Matchday 6 - FC Porto (H) 1-4 L
5’ Veiga struck the right hand post from 23 yards to give the Geese a wake-up call if they had ever needed one against the league leaders. On 24’ El Boukammiri drew a save from Costa from a low effort from 25 yards that was heading towards the bottom right hand corner. Golden chance spurned on the half hour when Araújo bundled the ball off Porto defender Alberto Costa inside their box but blazed his resulting effort over from 8 yards. On 40’ the Geese were awarded a penalty for a foul in the box which was converted on 42’33 into the bottom right hand corner by Araújo. The league's bottom side had scored their first goal of the season and led the league leaders 1-0. It lasted all of 5’24 seconds however as André Silva scored from half a yard inside the six yard box. 1-1 at half time.
The geese nearly took the lead for a second time with a shot from 2 yards inside their own half by Clua which had to be tipped over by Costa for a corner. 59’ A corner nearside headed home from 3 yards by Kiwior to give Porto the lead for the first time in the match. 65’ An attempted defensive header fell behind and straight onto the foot of Sainz who volleyed it first time from 12 yards to make it 3-1. Shades of Debast in the Supertaça with that goal albeit with a header rather than a sliced clearance.
71’ Maurin saw his angled header from 8 yards pushed away by Costa. On ‘90 a foul by the keeper Mandic gave away a second penalty on the night. Giménez converted it on 90+4 but only just as it came off the thigh of Mandic in goal and up into the net. The geese I'm sure will take great heart from a vast improvement from the 7-0 thrashing from Benfica earlier this season. Yes the scoreline tells one story, the statistics and chances created tell another entirely. In real time their opener lifted them out of the bottom 3. They need to start winning whilst there is just 3 points separating those teams at the bottom.
xG 1.59 - 2.60
Total Attempts 15 - 17
Shots on target 5 - 4
Big chances 3 - 4
Big chances missed 2 - 2
Matchday 7 - Estoril (A) 1-2 W
Suggestions for labels for this game may well have included El Crappico given neither side had won a game in 12 attempts combined before kick off. Four minutes gone and Nail Omerović forced Ivan Mandić into a save low down to his left from 20 yards. 25' Rego goes down in the Estoril box, rolls over twice, does a half turn back and another roll again. I have watched it back from every angle about 6 times and apart from the tiniest pull on the shirt I cannot tell you what that was given for. I would be fucking livid as an Estoril fan. I'm livid not being an Estoril fan. 26' Henrique Araújo stepped up to take it and do you know what karma said? She said fuck you Casa Pia as he knocked it clean over the bar. Justice done. 27' Rosas sees his effort thunk off the left hand post from 20 yards out to El Boukammiri whose attempted volley from 18 yards hit the head of a defender, onto the foot of another and into the hands of Robles in a weird moment of defending symmetry.
66' Double chance for the home side as first Guitane forces a save from 20 yards and Begraoui saw his follow up effort from 3 yards also stopped by Mandić in goal for a fine piece of keeping. 69' Could the keeper have done better for the opening goal? Possibly. Sánchez snuck in to knock it past him from 8 yards. In fairness the home side didn't hold onto the lead for long when just 2 minutes later Clua at full stretch from 11 yards sent one in off his shin into the bottom right hand corner. Doesn't matter how they go in, only that they do. 1-1. 75' The Estoril goal leading a charmed life as the Geese could have gone ahead when Rego's goalbound effort from 9 yards was stopped on the line. 76. They had the ball in the net a minute later only for the goal to be rightly ruled out for offside. Just the 1.01m gap between the forward Jatta and the defender. 87' Jatta was off to the races and bearing down on goal but his first touch inside the box may have been the reason he ends up squaring the ball to Dafe who connected with it at full stretch from 6 yards out and straight onto the bar. 88' A finish of real beauty from 23 yards as Pauwels curled the ball into the bottom right hand corner. The geese had finally won a game, finally made it off the bottom of the league but at the expense of Estoril who are now the only side after 7 rounds not to have a single win to their names.
xG 0.95 - 2.17
Total Attempts 14 - 11
Shots on target 6 - 3
Big chances 2 - 2
Big chances missed 1 - 2
Matchday 8 - Santa Clara (H) 0-1 L
23' Rego went close for the geese as he somehow managed to get past his marker and get a shot away from 10 yards but it was straight at goalkeeper França. 48' Sousa was initally shown a yellow card for a quite appalling late challenge on Brenner on the left wing. Unsurprisingly VAR told the referee to go to the monitor and the punishment was upgraded to a red card leaving Casa Pia down to ten men. Paciência went close with his header from the resulting free kick from 7 yards out but it crept past the far post. 69' El Boukammiri had França scrambling with a 28 yard free kick the narrowly went past the left hand post. Casa Pia looked to be about to hold on for a valuable point when Vasconcelos' 16 yard effort somehow crept in at the nearpost past Mandić.
xG 0.43 - 0.61
Total Attempts 5 - 14
Shots on target 2 - 2
Big chances 1 - 0
Big chances missed 1 - 0
