Last season, Casa Pia scored just 31 goals in 34 matches. For a team now tasked with containing Benfica, this is an important point: it is not enough for the hosts simply to withstand the pressure — they also need to find a goal themselves. The start of the new league season has not hidden this problem — Casa Pia lost 0:1 to Maritimo in the opening round despite having 61% possession. They had the ball often, but posed considerably less threat.
Casa Pia
Casa Pia are capable of making a match awkward. This is also evident from their recent meetings with Benfica: in the last three, the current hosts have not lost — one 3:1 win and two draws. However, there is now one unpleasant detail for them. The team finished last season in 16th place, reached the play-offs and survived only after a tie against Torreense. This is not an opponent that consistently creates plenty of chances, but a team that first needs to improve its own attack.
Benfica
Benfica's start has not been perfect either. They drew 2:2 with Academico Viseu in the league, then conceded in their European match against Hearts — 1:1. A clean-sheet win does not look so obvious against that backdrop, and that is perfectly normal: if the Lisbon side were already keeping everyone scoreless, the price would be different. Their foundation remains strong nonetheless. Benfica conceded 25 goals in 34 matches last season, while Anatoliy Trubin kept 13 clean sheets.
Casa Pia vs Benfica Prediction
Benfica will take control of the ball and space, while Casa Pia will spend most of the match looking for rare opportunities on the break and from set pieces. The hosts can drag the game out, but they need a goal of their own to ruin the bet. This is precisely where the team have the most questions at present. We are therefore taking a Benfica clean-sheet win: the difference in attacking quality should create an opportunity for the visitors, while Casa Pia's poor scoring record leaves a good chance that one or two goals will be enough for the favourites.
