Mohun Bagan will play their all-important match against FC Goa in the Indian Super League. Both teams have played 12 matches each till now, but Goa has a 5-point advantage over Mohun Bagan. FC Goa and Mohun Bagan are in 2nd and 4th positions at the points table, respectively. This match will probably decide the fate of both teams and whether they could be the table-toppers to clinch the League Shield title along with the AFC Champions League 2 group stage slot for the next season.
With Mohun Bagan back on the winning track and FC Goa dropping points at Odisha, both teams will go for the full three points, and under these circumstances, the match is going to be a really fascinating one.
This Mohun Bagan team will be different from the one that was thrashed by FC Goa in December at Salt Lake. The introduction of a strong coach like Habas might have sorted out their internal issues. They also got back their star players, like Liston, who has been missed because of a four-match suspension, and Sahal, who is available for tomorrow’s game, which they missed last time. Also, Sadiku and Tangri will be back from suspension and might feature in the playing XI.
Apart from the defence, which might still miss the service of Brendan Hamill and Anwar Ali (who is 80% fit according to the Habas), the team has regained their full strength and multiple options upfront. Liston Colaco, who has a habit of scoring goals against FC Goa, might be back in the playing XI. Also, their new addition, Joni Kauko, who has impressed everyone in his 30-minute spell against Hyderabad, could also be featured for the full 90 minutes, along with Asish Rai, who is fully fit and ready to play. If they can sort out their defensive formation with a minor adjustment, then they will definitely start the match as a favourite.
FC Goa, on the other hand, misses the service of Sandesh Jhingan, who is out for several weeks because of a knee injury he received during the AFC Asian Cup campaign for India, along with Borja Herrera (who joined from East Bengal) because of a one-match suspension. They might play Carl McHugh as the centre-back partner of Odei Onaindia, and in the upfront, Noah Sadaoui will be pairing with Carlos Martínez. This means that Noah has to play deep and support the midfield, or else their entire Indian midfield might crumble under pressure, as we have seen against Odisha. FC Goa will probably go for their reliable 4-2-3-1 formation, which is sometimes formatted as 4-1-4-1 with experienced Rowllin Borges as the defensive screen in the midfield.
Let’s see how two master tacticians, Manolo Márquez and Antonio López Habas, will go about their plans and outsmart each other with their tactics.
Line-up Prediction:
Recent Encounters:
Mohun Bagan 1 – 4 FC Goa (Dec 23, 2023, Indian Super League)
FC Goa 1 – 2 Mohun Bagan (Aug 31, 2023, 132nd Durand Cup)
Kick off Time: 7:30PM(IST)
Live telecast/streaming: JioCinema, Sports18 3, DD Bangla, OneFootball(International)
Venue: Fatorda Stadium, Goa.
