Casa Pia secure Primeira Liga survival with playoff win over Torreense, who now face a season in the second tier and the Europa League
Casa Pia defeated Torreense 2-0 in the promotion/relegation playoff second leg, ensuring their Primeira Liga status while the Taça de Portugal winners will compete in the Europa League from the Segunda Liga next season.
Casa Pia guaranteed their place in the 2026/27 Primeira Liga with a 2-0 victory over Torreense in the second leg of the playoff at Rio Maior on Thursday, 28 May. The result, following a goalless first leg in Torres Vedras, means the Lisbon club will play a fifth consecutive season in the top flight, while Torreense's hopes of an immediate return to the first division after 34 years were dashed.
Match action
After a tense opening, Spanish midfielder Gaizka Larrazabal broke the deadlock in the 38th minute, finishing an assist from Kevin Prieto to score the first goal of the tie. Torreense pushed for an equaliser after the break, but Ghanaian Lawrence Ofori sealed the contest in the 78th minute, doubling Casa Pia's lead and extinguishing the second-tier side's comeback hopes.
- Gaizka Larrazabal scores for Casa Pia (1-0)
- Lawrence Ofori doubles Casa Pia's lead (2-0)
- Full-time: Casa Pia win 2-0, secure Primeira Liga survival
A bittersweet farewell
Casa Pia's victory also marked the end of José Fonte's playing career. The European champion, who remained on the bench for the full 90 minutes, confirmed his retirement after the match.
Fonte stated he will now pursue coaching qualifications and other educational courses.It would be very difficult, hard, to end with relegation. It would be unthinkable. These fans and this family did not deserve it at all.
Torreense's exhaustion and pride
Torreense entered the playoff just four days after their historic Taça de Portugal final victory over Sporting, a match that went to extra time. Head coach Luís Tralhão felt his side deserved more over the two legs.
Defender Stopira acknowledged the physical toll of the schedule but refused to use it as an excuse, saying the team was "prejudiced by the fixture load and the 120 minutes of the Cup."In the overall tie, I don't want to sound presumptuous or like a sore loser, but we had better moments than Casa Pia and today football was not fair to us.
A unique European campaign awaits
Despite the playoff defeat, Torreense's season will extend onto the continental stage. Their Taça de Portugal triumph earned them a place in the 2026/27 Europa League league phase, making them the latest club to play in European competition while competing in their country's second division. They join a select group that includes Cardiff City, Sunderland, Atalanta, Millwall, Alemannia Aachen, Birmingham City, and Wigan Athletic.
Primeira Liga lineup complete
The playoff result finalised the 18-team roster for the 2026/27 Primeira Liga. Marítimo and Académico de Viseu secured automatic promotion from the Segunda Liga, replacing relegated Tondela and AVS SAD. Casa Pia's survival ensures their continued presence among Portugal's elite, while Torreense must now balance a second-division campaign with the demands of European football.
