Nacional vs Leixoes

But Carlos Fangueiro's side showed resilience of their own. Kaique Rodrigues found the net to restore parity at 3-3, ensuring the spoils were shared in what was an open, end-to-end pre-season workout. Neither side could find a winner in the remaining minutes.

João Gião named a strong starting XI featuring Renato Marín in goal, a back four of Daniel De La Cruz, Leonardo Santos, Matheus Dias and Pedro Silva, with Miguel Baeza, Igor Liziero and Laabidi in midfield, and an attacking trio of Matheus Iseppe, Stavros Gavriel and Chucho Ramírez. The coach made extensive use of his bench, introducing João Gonçalves, Stanyslav Tolstoi, Francisco Gonçalves, Bruno Ciscati, Joel Silva, Martim Watts, Nourani and Pablo Ruan — the last of whom made an immediate impact with his goal.

Stavros Gavriel (Nacional) — Player of the Match. The Cypriot attacker scored one goal and was a constant threat in the final third. His equaliser early in the second half sparked Nacional's revival and he led the line effectively throughout.

Pablo Ruan (Nacional). Introduced from the bench, the Brazilian made an instant impact by scoring the goal that completed Nacional's turnaround. A timely contribution in the race for pre-season fitness.

Bryan Róchez (Leixões). The Honduran striker got Leixões off to a flying start with the opening goal, showing sharp movement inside the box.

For Nacional, this was the first pre-season test of the 2026/27 campaign under João Gião, who replaced Tiago Margarido in the summer. The Liga Portugal side are in a training camp in Lousada, and the quick turnaround means a second friendly against Tondela on Sunday 19 July — less than 24 hours later — at the same venue.

Leixões, preparing for life in Liga Portugal 2 under Carlos Fangueiro, have a longer gap before their next fixture: a meeting with Vizela on 29 July, followed by a clash with Casa Pia on 1 August.

A typical early pre-season friendly — disjointed in spells, open at both ends, and ultimately a fair reflection of two sides prioritising fitness over defensive organisation. Nacional's ability to fight back from 2-0 down will please Gião, but the defensive lapses that allowed Leixões to score three times will need addressing before the competitive season begins.