Image: from Liga Portugal X @ligaportugal
By Open Chronicle Sports
8 August 2026
Marítimo marked their return to Portugal’s top division with a victory as Raphael Guzzo scored the decisive goal in a 1–0 win over Casa Pia AC at the Estádio do Marítimo.
A crowd of 8,076 watched the Madeira club make a successful start to the 2026/27 Liga Portugal Betclic campaign, with Guzzo breaking the deadlock in the second half after an assist from Martín Tejón.
The result gave Marítimo three points, a clean sheet and the perfect conclusion to an afternoon celebrating the club’s return to the highest level of Portuguese football.
⚽ GOLO
Raphael Guzzo 61'
I Liga (#1) | Marítimo (1)-0 Casa Pia #LigaPortugalBetclic #VSPORTSLPBETCLIC #EPOCA2627 #JORNADA1 #CSMCPAC #CSM #CPAC
Todos os vídeos 👉 https://t.co/3S8IpoKhLe pic.twitter.com/ULbNp6geZ9— VSPORTS (@Vsports_pt) August 8, 2026
Marítimo 1–0 Casa Pia AC
Liga Portugal Betclic 2026/27 · Matchday 1
8 August 2026
Estádio do Marítimo, Funchal
Goal: Raphael Guzzo 61′
Assist: Martín Tejón
Attendance: 8,076
Referee: Sérgio Guelho
A Special Afternoon in Madeira
There was a sense of occasion in Funchal before the match had even begun.
Marítimo were playing their first Liga Portugal fixture following promotion, bringing top-flight football back to the Estádio do Marítimo.
The home support responded in numbers, and the players ultimately delivered the result they had come to see.
Casa Pia, however, made the returning side work for it.
The visitors enjoyed more possession and prevented Marítimo from turning the occasion into an easy afternoon. The first half remained goalless as both sides attempted to establish control of the contest.
Marítimo nevertheless carried a threat when moving forward and gradually found the moment they needed after the interval.
Guzzo Breaks the Deadlock
The decisive move arrived in the 61st minute.
Martín Tejón provided the assist and Raphael Guzzo finished the move to put Marítimo 1–0 ahead.
It proved to be the only goal of the afternoon.
Guzzo’s contribution was particularly significant given the context. His strike was not simply Marítimo’s first Liga Portugal goal of the new campaign. It became the goal that delivered victory in the club’s first match back in the Portuguese top flight.
Casa Pia attempted to respond and continued to see plenty of the ball, but Marítimo protected their advantage.
The home side had to defend their lead through the closing stages, with the visitors searching for an equaliser that never arrived.
Possession Without Reward for Casa Pia
The match illustrated the difference between possession and effectiveness.
Casa Pia recorded approximately 61 percent of the possession compared with Marítimo’s 39 percent, but the hosts produced the greater overall volume of attempts.
Marítimo registered 16 shots, four of them on target. Casa Pia finished with nine attempts and also placed four on target.
That meant goalkeeper Alfonso Pastor and the Marítimo defence still had work to do to preserve the clean sheet.
Casa Pia also won six corners compared with Marítimo’s two, another indication of the periods of pressure generated by the visitors.
None produced the equaliser.
Marítimo had found the decisive moment and made it count.
Marítimo Starting XI
Marítimo lined up in a 4–3–3 formation.
Goalkeeper: Alfonso Pastor
Defenders: Igor Julião, Rafael Fernandes, Romain Correia, Paulo Henrique
Midfielders: Raphael Guzzo, Rodrigo Andrade, Vladan Danilović
Forwards: Simo Bouzaidi, Adrián Butzke, Martín Tejón
The combination between two members of that starting side ultimately decided the contest, with Tejón creating the opportunity and Guzzo converting it.
Casa Pia Starting XI
Casa Pia also started in a 4–3–3.
Goalkeeper: André Gomes
Defenders: André Geraldes, João Goulart, David Sousa, Abdu Conté
Midfielders: Seba Pérez, Lawrence Ofori, Gabi Pereira
Forwards: Korede Osundina, Henrique Araújo, Rochinha
Despite enjoying the majority of possession, Casa Pia were unable to convert their territorial control into a goal.
Discipline
The match became increasingly physical as it approached its conclusion.
David Sousa was booked for Casa Pia in first-half stoppage time.
Abdoulaye Jatta was also shown a yellow card for the visitors late in the match.
Marítimo scorer Raphael Guzzo received a booking in second half stoppage time, while Tiago Tavares was also cautioned during the closing moments.
The home side nevertheless retained their composure sufficiently to protect the narrow advantage.
Match Statistics
Possession: Marítimo 39% · Casa Pia 61%
Shots: Marítimo 16 · Casa Pia 9
Shots on target: Marítimo 4 · Casa Pia 4
Corners: Marítimo 2 · Casa Pia 6
Fouls: Marítimo 17 · Casa Pia 13
Offsides: Marítimo 0 · Casa Pia 1
Goalkeeper saves: Marítimo 4 · Casa Pia 3
The statistics underline the nature of the contest.
Casa Pia controlled more of the ball, but Marítimo generated more attempts and, crucially, converted one of them.
Three Points on the Return
For Marítimo, the importance of the afternoon went well beyond an ordinary Matchday 1 victory.
Returning to the top flight is one challenge. Demonstrating immediately that the team can compete at that level is another.
Marítimo achieved both objectives on opening day.
The defensive clean sheet provides a particularly encouraging foundation. Promoted teams are often tested immediately by the increased speed and quality of top flight opposition, but Marítimo found a way to manage the game and protect a one-goal advantage.
When the final whistle arrived, the scoreboard told the story the home crowd wanted to see.
Marítimo 1, Casa Pia AC 0.
Match Summary
Competition: Liga Portugal Betclic 2026/27
Matchday: 1
Date: 8 August 2026
Kick-off: 14:30
Venue: Estádio do Marítimo, Funchal
Attendance: 8,076
Result: Marítimo 1–0 Casa Pia AC
Goal: Raphael Guzzo 61′
Assist: Martín Tejón
Referee: Sérgio Guelho
Marítimo formation: 4–3–3
Casa Pia formation: 4–3–3
For Marítimo, it was exactly the kind of afternoon they had hoped for.
Top-flight football returned to Madeira; the stands were filled, Guzzo provided the decisive moment, and three points stayed at the Estádio do Marítimo.
Marítimo are back in Liga Portugal, and their return has begun with a victory.