Arguably one of the biggest matchups of the season, the ISL Shield winners – FC Goa are all set to lock horns with the Sergio Lobera led Mumbai City FC.
There’s a sense of newfound rivalry among the fans from either sides. The buildup for this particular encounter started when Sergio Lobera departed the Goan shores in shocking turn of events, to take control of Mumbai City FC who just parted ways with the then head coach Jorge Costa. Things turned pale for the gaurs when four of their first team starters decided to follow coach Lobera to MCFC.
The Goan players will be raring to get on the pitch to play against some of their former teammates while on the other hand we can expect the same sense of bitterness from the islanders as they’d be buckling up to avenge their huge margin defeats from the yesteryears. This high profile encounter between two of the finest teams of the league, who kind of share the same ethos and philosophy is definitely the one to look forward to. And as the excitement is piling up, lets take a dive into the knowhows of this particular bout.
If we take a lookback at the current form, both the team will be heading in without registering their maiden wins of the tournament. While FC Goa had a draw against Bengaluru FC, Mumbai City will be stepping in after a hard fought defeat against Northeast United FC. As this game will be crucial for both the sides, coach Juan Ferrando quoted, “Everybody is ready for the game against Mumbai City FC. I am very happy with my players and their technical ability. Our approach will be the same like any other game, but yes it’s very important to win those 3 points.”
In this particular season of the Indian Super League, we’ve seen a huge talent pool of Indian players rise up to the occasion and punch above their weight.
Key Indian players to watch out:
Brandon Fernandes
The man who proved to be a gamechanger in his last outing for the side, Brandon is definitely one of the finest Indian players in this setup. Although he’s recovering from the knee injury we can expect him to come on from the bench in the latter half of the game.
Mohammad Rakip
The young right back did tremendously well in his debut for Mumbai City FC. His performance on the flanks was like a breathe of fresh air and he’s definitely a vital prospect for the future.
Rowllin Borges
The defensive midfielder has been orchestral in the midfield, be it for MCFC or for the National team. With the absence of Ahmed Jahouh, Borges has an added responsibility.
Updates from the Dugout:
Brandon Fernandes might not start the game as he picked up an injury in the last season and has been recovering since then. Coach Ferrando said, “Brandon is currently working both with the team and the physios. Its very important to take utmost care.” Brandon being a crucial part of the setup, they definitely dont want to aggravate the injury.
Ahmed Jahouh misses out the game after getting sent off by a red card for a reckless tackle. Even FCG striker Ishan Pandita’s spot is uncertain because of an apparent eye infection. Raynier Fernandes was substituted off in the early minutes of his first game because of what seemed like a groin injury and might take time to recover.
Probable lineups:
FC Goa – Mohammad Nawaz, Seriton Fernandes, James Donachie, Ivan Gonzalez, Saviour Gama, Lenny Rodriguez, Edu Bedia (C), Redeem Tlang, Princeton Rebello, Jorge Ortiz, Igor Angulo
Mumbai City FC – Amrinder Singh (C), Mohammad Rakip, Sarthak Golui, Mourtada Fall, Mandar Rao Desai, Hernan Santana, Rowllin Borges, Hugo Boumous, Cy Goddard, Farukh Choudhary, Adam le Fondre
Head to Head record:
Matches Played: 14
FC Goa wins: 7
Mumbai City FC win :4
Draws: 3
Match Facts:
Venue – Fatorda Stadium | Time – 7:30 pm | Date – 24th November 2020
Our Prediction:
Both the sides have missed out on some key players ahead of the game and it seems like it will be a very evenly contested game. It will be tough to separate both but FC Goa seems to have an upper edge as they will be playing in their backyard, in more familiar surroundings. Speaking of the scoreline, the predicted result is a 2-2 draw.
Follow IFTWC for all the latest updates on Indian Football and download our from playstore.