Santa Clara is gearing up to bounce back from their opening-day stumble as they host Moreirense at Estadio de São Miguel this weekend for the second round of the Primeira Liga action. After a tough week juggling European and domestic matches, the Azores-based squad is eager to turn things around at home, while Moreirense rides high off their recent win against Alveca.
For Santa Clara’s manager, Vatos Matos, it’s a bittersweet moment. Last season, he steered the newly promoted side to an impressive fifth-place finish—their best ever in the top flight. But now, the challenge is real: managing a packed schedule of league games and Conference League qualifiers. Their 3-0 loss to Famalicao last weekend showed signs of a team stretched thin, with Matos making just two tweaks to the lineup that played in their midweek Conference League win against Larne.
Speaking of Europe, Santa Clara secured their spot in the final qualifying round with a gritty 0-0 draw in the return leg against Larne. Next up, they’ll face Shamrock Rovers, but first, they’ve got their sights set on this weekend’s clash, hoping to capitalize on home-field advantage and shake off that league opener blues.
Moreirense, though, won’t make it easy. The Green and Whites are unbeaten in their last three league trips to the Azores, all ending in draws. Fresh off a dramatic 2-1 win over Alveca—thanks to Yan Maranhao’s last-gasp goal—they’re brimming with confidence. That victory gave manager Vasco Botelho da Costa a dream start against his old club, where he previously earned promotion with a second-place finish in the 2024-25 Liga Portugal 2. Now sitting seventh after round one, Moreirense is aiming for at least a top-half finish this season, building on last year’s solid 10th-place effort.
On the team news front, Matos rested some key players midweek, so expect Luis Rocha and Matheus Pereira to slot back into the starting lineup. Young winger Gabriel Silva, who came off the bench last time, could also get the nod, while new signing Elias Manoel is itching for his first start. Santa Clara’s only confirmed absence is defensive midfielder Pedro Pacheco, still sidelined by injury.
Moreirense, meanwhile, will miss midfielder Guilherme Liberato and center-back Michel. Their new signing, Landerson, might not be rushed into action just yet, especially with Guilherme Schettine and Maranhao finding the net in the last game.
Sunday’s showdown promises to be a tight one, with both sides hungry for points. Will Santa Clara harness their home energy, or can Moreirense keep their unbeaten streak in the Azores alive?
