CD Nacional host FC Famalicão at the Estádio da Madeira on 19 September 2026 in a Matchday 7 fixture both clubs need badly. Nacional sit 14th on four points after six games, with Famalicão a spot below on the same tally, separated only by goal difference. The clearest difference between the two sides is not the table, though: Nacional appointed Alexandre Santos on 8 September after sacking João Gião, giving him barely ten days before this match, whereas Famalicão brought Carlos Carvalhal in as far back as 12 July following Hugo Oliveira's departure to Strasbourg, meaning Carvalhal has had two months with his squad while Santos is still working out his starting eleven. There is no real managerial head to head history between them either, since Santos was appointed so recently that any prior meetings would have involved a different Nacional bench entirely, which makes the tactical battle harder to read than most.
Nacional have won just once in their last five outings, beating Estoril 2-0 before dropping points against Vitória Guimarães, Estrela da Amadora, Sporting CP and Alverca, while Famalicão have not won in six, picking up three draws and three defeats including losses to Marítimo and Santa Clara. Both sides arrive in poor shape and their table positions reflect exactly that.
Nacional are without José Gomes, Ulisses Rocha and Léo Santos through injury, stripping Alexandre Santos of defensive and midfield options before he has had a proper chance to work with them, whereas Famalicão travel without Roméo Beney (suspended) and Tommie van de Looi (injured), with Beney's absence thinning their attacking depth and van de Looi's disrupting the midfield shape.
Santos is expected to set up in either a 3-4-3 or 4-2-3-1 with two banks of four designed to keep the shape compact and win the ball in midfield. Liziero should be the main creative outlet from that midfield, with Baeza operating as the link between the midfield and the striker and both will need to carry a heavier load than usual given the absences. Carvalhal's Famalicão run a structured 4-2-3-1 with Koutsias leading the line as their top scorer, Sorriso cutting in from wide to threaten the back line and Gil Dias as the deeper creator who dictates the pace of attacks through his positioning and passing range. The battle between Famalicão's double pivot and Nacional's midfield screen will probably determine how much space those creative players get on the ball.
Famalicão's longer run under Carvalhal should make them more drilled in his system, whereas Nacional, still learning Santos' setup, may sit deep and look to transition quickly when they win it, with Liziero able to switch play quickly enough to expose Famalicão if they push too many men forward. If Famalicão move the ball quickly enough, Sorriso's runs in behind could pull Nacional's back line apart, especially with Gomes, Rocha and Léo Santos all unavailable to deal with that threat aerially and down the channels.
Famalicão have the better of recent meetings, winning four of the last eight to Nacional's three with one draw and they have taken both of the most recent fixtures. Set pieces feel relevant given the absences on both sides: Nacional lose the aerial presence of Gomes, Rocha and Léo Santos in defensive situations and could be exposed to deliveries into the box, while Famalicão lose Beney from their own dead ball options, though that feels like the lesser problem. If Nacional can slow the game down and frustrate Famalicão into long balls, Koutsias becomes less dangerous and their structure less threatening.
Famalicão to win 2-1. Carvalhal has had nearly two months to shape this squad while Santos is working from practically a standing start and that preparation gap should be felt across 90 minutes. Koutsias and Sorriso should exploit the gaps that the absences of Gomes, Rocha and Léo Santos will leave, particularly in the air and down the channels, while Gil Dias orchestrates from deeper positions. Liziero and Baeza are capable of threatening on the counter and will probably get Nacional on the scoresheet but the head to head record and their defensive disruptions point toward a Famalicão win on the road.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
