ISL: FC Goa vs Mumbai City FC – What we can expect – Preview and Prediction

FC Goa host Mumbai City FC on Sunday

The week has seen some interesting games and there have been some movements on the table. FC Goa have been the worst sufferers of it, which sees them reeling at the bottom of the table as they slumped to yet another defeat losing 1-0 to Kerala Blasters and putting their campaign back in doldrums.

A beleaguered FC Goa side moves back home to take on a buoyant Mumbai City FC outfit, who come on the back of back to back wins and up to fourth in the table after a torrid start.

While Mumbai City FC would be looking to keep the purple patch going, FC Goa would be hoping their star players can weave magic and bring back life to the Virat Kohli co-owned franchise.

The key for FC Goa would be not only to put the disappointment behind, but also the ball in the back of the net as they have been pretty feeble in the final third and have lacked finishing touches. There has been lack of incision as well which might be addressed by the incoming Andre Santos and Edgar Marcelino. Mumbai City FC, on the other hand would be resting hopes on Nicolas Anelka to do the trick yet again and take them further up in the table.

Form Guide (last 5 games):

FC Goa- LLLDL

Mumbai City FC- WWLLW

FC Goa has played six games so far, losing four, drawing one and winning as much in what has been a disappointing start for them in the ISL.

Their season hasn’t really taken off and though the last gasp win against delhi Dynamos gave immense hope, the loss in the next game at the hands of Kerala Blasters hasn’t helped their cause.

FC Goa have been poor upfront, failing to apply finishing touches to the chances they create. They are also missing incision in their play and with Pires not being anywhere near his best, the team has suffered.

FC Goa need to add some freshness to their play and try taking a few calculated gambles if they are to dwell any hopes of progressing far in the tournament.

The journey of their opponents, Mumbai City FC has been entirely different. Having lost heavily to Atletico de Kolkata in the season opener, the team responded well with a 5-0 thumping of neighbours FC Pune City. But two back to back losses at the hands of NorthEast United FC and Chennaiyin FC left the team in a spot of bother and lots of introspection to be done. The team has then come back strongly and buoyed by the incoming Nicolas Anelka, the team has won two in two to get their campaign on the right track.

This is just the kind of game the visitors must be looking at to complete a hat-trick and go in further ascendency as they lock horns with a struggling FC Goa side.

Venue

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, also known as the Fatorda Stadium is located in Margoa, Goa and is a multi-purpose stadium, which has been host to a number of international cricket and football games.

FC Goa has managed to build a strong fanbase for itself with fans around the city planning in their own little way to make the crowd support massive and spur on the FC Goa outfit. The last few games have seen immense turnout and the passion the state has for the sport, there is every chance that fans would light up the stadium yet again despite the team’s poor show.

Emotions have been flowing high in the state with fans even going to the extent of crying at losses, while the win in the last home game against Delhi Dynamos got them singing in unison and light up the city.

Kick-off:

November 9, 2014: 04:30 pm (IST)

Possible starting line-ups

FC Goa (4-2-3-1): Kattimani; Debrata Das, Youness Bengelloun, Gregory Arnolin, Narayan Das; Bruno Pinheiro, Robert Pires, Andre Santos, Jewel Raja, Romeo Fernandes; Miroslav Slepicka

With Andre Santos coming back from injury and FC Goa needing to maintain the flair upfront, keeper Jan Seda is likely to make way for Laxmikant Kattimani to accommodate another foreigner in the attacking third. Mandar Rao Desai despite two impressive performances is likely to make way.

FC Goa is likely to go ahead with the same back-four, but would expect more consistency from them and aim for their maiden clean sheet. Narayan Das and Debrata Roy would be needed to add more width to the outfit.

With the return of Andre Santos, the pressure on Robert Pires’ shoulder would be lesser and the former Arsenal pair would have their task cut out in order to provide Slepicka with the chances to score goals and even get up further forward in wake of them getting on to goal scoring opportunities.

Jewel Raja and Romeo Fernandes will look to add to it, while Bruno Pinheiro will be expected to do the dirty work.

Mumbai City FC (4-4-1-1): Subrata Paul; Deepak Mandal, Manuel Friedrich, Pavel Cmovs, Peter Costa;Subhash Singh, Jan Stohanzl, Johan Letzelter,Lalrindika Ralte; Andre Moritz; Nicolas Anelka

Mumbai City FC are expected to maintain the winning side with the only potential change beind Peter Costa replacing Rahim Nabi, who went off early on in the previous game injured and isn’t sure to be able to recover in time.

The back four have stood tall in the last couple of games having been poor previously, while the midfield pairing of Stohanzl and Letzelter have provided a strong shield as well as contributing to the attack.

Andre Moritz, Ralte and Subhash Singh would look to get behind Anelka and put him in goal scoring positions and provide him with the right kind of supply, in addition to getting themselves at the right place as the opportunity arises.

Probable Starting Line-ups- FC Goa vs Mumbai City FC

Key Facts and Stats

1. This is the first time the teams are going head to head in the ISL.
2. FC Goa is yet to keep a clean sheet in the ISL, while Mumbai City FC already has three
3. Mumbai City FC are fourth in the table with 9 points from six games, while FC Goa are bottom with just 4 point in the same number of games.
4. FC Goa has scored just five goals in the tournament so far. The same number as Mumbai City FC scored against FC Pune City.

?Key Battles

Arnolin and Youness vs Anelka

Nicolas Anelka comes on the back of two successful games having scored one in each of them and has looked lethal upfront. Still boasting of defence splitting runs, and prolific goal poaching abilities, Anelka has been a great value addition to the squad.

With Mumbai City FC coach Peter Reid and former Liverpool player and legend Ian Rush both claiming Anelka to be good enough still for Premier League and having spent last season with the Baggies, the Frenchman is a huge threat, especially for FC Goa whose defence, though has stood tall, but made an odd mistake in the game, leading to goals.

The FC Goa defensive pair have been usually solid, but there have been moments in the game where the pair seem to have lost some bit of attention and this is when exactly Anelka might add injury to insult and hence, a well concentrated 90 minutes from the pair in addition to marking the runs is what would be the call of the day for the central defensive pair. The pair would be looking to add a clean sheet to their kitty.

Stohanzl vs Robert Pires

Battles are won in the midfield is what the rhetoric saying goes. It does play an important part in how the game flows and though Robert Pires hasn’t been anywhere close to his best, he is the one from where the game builds up for FC Goa and the potential defence splitting passes come.

Stohanzl plays a similar role for Mumbai City FC and control the tempo of the game. It is going to be an exciting battle and the one who comes out on top is likely to twist the game in his team’s favour.

Andre Santos vs Deepak Mandal

After a slow start to the ISL, Andre Santos seemed to have finally found his groove. After a goal against Atletico de Kolkata and a very impressive performance against FC Pune City, Andre Santos makes a comeback having gone off injured against Delhi Dynamos.

Andre Santos has added more width to FC Goa’s play and precise incision. He also boats of a rocket left foot and has the ability to score goals. Mumbai City FC would be wary of the Brazilian and the away side’s right-back Deepak Mandal would have his task cut out in order to stop the fiery midfielder.

Prediction

FC Goa 1-2 Mumbai City FC