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FC Goa are all set to host the best defensive side in the league Jamshedpur FC in their fourth home game of ISL 2017/18 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa. This match is a straight battle between the best attack and the best defence of the league.
The FC Goa campaign seems to have hit a wall, especially considering the way they had started. They had won four out of their first five games of the season but have not managed to win a single game in last three attempts. After scoring 18 goals in the first five, the Gaurs have managed to find the back of the net just twice in last three games. This loss in form has dropped them to fifth place in the league table.
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On the other side, Jamshedpur FC are the best defensive side of ISL 2017/18 with just four goals conceded in eight games. However, they have also seen a significant drop in their defensive form after keeping four clean sheets in their first four games and have managed just one clean sheet in the previous four. Their confidence will surely be high after defeating Bengaluru FC and playing out a draw with Mumbai City FC.
FC Goa
Despite a loss in form, FC Goa head coach Sergio Lobera has full confidence in his players and believes that favourable results will come in the next games. He accepts that not converting the chances and taking the lead first is one of the key reasons behind his team’s poor performance in last three games.
The Gaurs are expected to go all guns blazing in front of their home fans. The Spaniard is not expected to be back with his first choice starting XI with Narayan Das, Mohamed Ali, Pinheiro, Edu Bedia replacing Chinglensana, Just, Pranoy, Arana in the starting XI from the previous game. He will continue to field his boys in 4-2-3-1 to control the ball in the midfield area.
FC Goa Probable Starting XI: Kattimani, Das, Ali, Pinheiro, Seriton, Bedia, Jahouh, Fernandes, Mandar, Lanzarote, Corominas.
Jamshedpur FC
Jamshedpur FC head coach Steve Coppell believes that FC Goa will be a test of their defensive abilities. He also hinted that his boys will try to take advantage of FC Goa’s poor defence as they have leaked the second most number of goals in the season.
The recovery of Anas seems to have provided a right balance to the side as they can play an extra foreign attacker in front. With Mehtab Hossain being suspended from the game (4 yellow cards), we can expect Farukh Chaudhary to replace the experienced campaigner in the starting XI. He is most likely to field his boys in a 4-1-4-1 formation to use the width to great effect.
Jamshedpur FC Probable Starting XI: Paul, Souvik, Shouvik, Anas, Tiri, Memo, Farukh, Trindade, Jerry, Belfort, Azuka.
Prediction
FC Goa 2-1 Jamshedpur FC
In the battle of the best attack and best defence of ISL 2017/18, we are expecting FC Goa to take home all 3 points tonight at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, Goa. Despite a brilliant defensive show in past, it is going to be tough for Jamshedpur to stop free-scoring Gaurs.
