The new football season is about to kick off. Casa Pia will host Sporting tomorrow night at 8:15 PM. This big game happens in Rio Maior. It marks the very first match of the 2025/26 Liga Betclic. The team’s biggest headaches are in the midfield. That area saw the most changes this transfer window.
João Pereira, the manager, faces a tricky puzzle. His team usually plays in a 3-4-3 setup. Two key players from last season are gone. Lelo, a left wing-back, moved to Braga. Kraev, a central midfielder, went to Hapoel Tel Aviv. These departures leave big gaps to fill.
Finding a new left wing-back is straightforward. Benaïssa is the only player currently in that spot. The club expects another player to join him soon. Kraev’s midfield role is more complex. Seba Pérez arrived as the last new signing. He has not had much time to train with the team. Still, he is expected to step right into the starting lineup. The coach seems to have that spot reserved for him.
On the right side, Larrazabal will keep his wing-back position. Miguel Sousa is likely to stay in the central midfield. But who will partner him? Three players are fighting for that spot. Rafael Brito, Pablo Roberto, and new signing Yassin Oukili are all options. Pereira has a tough choice to make there.
Other parts of the team seem more settled. Patrick Sequeira remains the starting goalkeeper. The three defenders from last season’s most-used lineup will also stay. João Goulart, José Fonte, and Duplexe form that solid backline. Up front, Cassiano and Livolant are still the main strikers. There is one open spot in the attack. Nsona, a new winger, is the favorite to claim it. All three starting attackers scored in their last friendly match. They beat Alverca 3-2 in a pre-season test.
Young Guns Ready for Action
Casa Pia also registered two young players for the Liga Portugal. Afonso Vieira is an 18-year-old central defender. Migue Neves, also 18, is a striker. Both joined the first team for pre-season training. They will mainly play with the club’s Under-19 team. However, João Pereira can call them up for league games. They are ready if the coach needs them.
Other young talents also trained with the main squad. Goalkeeper Manuel Brito and full-back João Djaló were among them. The club is clearly building for the future. This mix of experienced players, new faces, and promising youth makes Casa Pia’s season opener a must-watch. It will show how well Pereira’s new team can gel under pressure.