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A few days ago, ATK confirmed their spot in the 2019-20 ISL play-offs when they got the better of Odisha FC 3-1. A couple of days previously, FC Goa had done so when they blitzed past a hapless Hyderabad FC outfit.
Thus, at this juncture, the aforementioned sides find themselves placed in the top two and seem primed to remain in those trenches, barring a calamitous collapse.
Additionally, Bengaluru FC, despite not mathematically confirming their qualification, seem destined to be among the ISL mix come March 2020, owing to their tally of 29 points from 16 matches.
Unsurprisingly, there seems an inevitability about three of the four sides that would feature in the semi-finals, although that’s a notion that can’t readily be applied to those beneath them.
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At this juncture, the likes of Chennaiyin FC, Mumbai City FC and Odisha FC still boast the capability and possibility to outwit the other to perch themselves in the play-off slots.
Thus, with only two rounds of league matches left, the time seems ripe to indulge in predictions and chalk out how the ISL table could exactly look like come the 25th of February, when Chennaiyin FC lock horns with NorthEast United FC.
Through the article, we would analyse how each remaining fixture could pan out, the score-line it could entail and the implication it might have on the standings.
FC Goa vs Mumbai City FC (12th February 2020)
Jorge Costa has catapulted the Islanders into the higher echelons of the league since his arrival in the summer of 2018. However, the Portuguese, despite his success at Mumbai City FC, doesn’t boast an enviable record against FC Goa.
In fact, he has emerged victorious only once, with that encounter coming against the Gaurs in the 2nd leg of last term’s semi-final, a tie the latter had already wrapped up courtesy a 5-1 mauling at the Mumbai Football Arena.
Thus, the match at Fatorda on the 12th represents the ideal banana skin for Mumbai, meaning that they might even be content to return with a point.
Moreover, they would be missing Amine Chermiti, thereby forcing Costa to opt for a makeshift striking solution. Goa, on the other hand, possess the luxury of calling upon their vast resources, with Ahmed Jahouh also returning from suspension.
Furthermore, Goa’s game seems suited to exploit the games that the Islanders usually leave in between the lines and the Gaurs’ concentration of attacks down the flanks could also cause the Islanders plenty of problems.
Hence, anything apart from a home victory seems a far-fetched result, at best.
Score Prediction: FC Goa 3-1 Mumbai City FC
Hyderabad FC vs Jamshedpur FC (13th February 2020)
The encounter, as such, doesn’t have much bearing on the top four race with both sides having been eliminated. However, the contest could morph into an exciting clash, considering both might be free-spirited in their approach.
Additionally, both sets of players would want to strengthen their chances of being retained by their clubs, especially as Hyderabad and Jamshedpur seek to shake things up in the off-season.
Thus, with both sides not covering themselves in any glory defensively, one can expect the goals to flow, meaning that we might have plenty of entertainment, even if it falls short on the quality quotient.
Score Prediction: Hyderabad FC 1-2 Jamshedpur FC
Odisha FC vs NorthEast United FC (14th February 2020)
After a patchy start to the season, Odisha FC found themselves within touching distance of qualification courtesy a stellar run through the middle phases of the competition.
However, a sequence of three straight defeats against Bengaluru FC, FC Goa and ATK has again cast them in troubled waters, as far as their top four hopes are concerned.
Currently, the Juggernauts are placed 6th, 4 points off fourth place, having played the same number of games. Thus, Josep Gombau’s troops need other results to go their way if they harbour hopes of making the semi-finals in their debut season.
Yet, for that to materialise, they’ll also have to win their remaining fixtures, which isn’t particularly easy considering they also have to arrest a three-game losing streak.
However, with NorthEast United looking woefully out of sorts themselves, the Juggernauts could just have enough firepower to see them off and keep themselves in the hunt for the play-offs.
Score Prediction: Odisha FC 2-0 NorthEast United FC
Kerala Blasters vs Bengaluru FC (15th February 2020)
Kerala Blasters have given a highly inconsistent account of themselves throughout the campaign and while they always represent a side capable of springing a surprise, one reckons it might not come to fruition against Bengaluru FC.
The defending champions, despite not firing on all cylinders, are still comfortably placed in 3rd and are expected to advance. While their attack has alarmingly failed to create as many clear-cut chances as yesteryear, their rear-guard has been colossal, meaning that they’ve kept 10 clean sheets in 16 matches.
Fortunately for the Blues though, they’ve mastered the art of scoring from set-pieces and that could prove crucial against a side that is susceptible to conceding goals of a similar ilk.
Moreover, the Blasters’ attack has often flattered to deceive, thereby propelling Bengaluru FC as firm favourites for the encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on the 15th of February.
Score Prediction: Kerala Blasters 0-1 Bengaluru FC
ATK vs Chennaiyin FC (16th February 2020)
ATK have been largely spotless at the Salt Lake Stadium, despite them being surprisingly trumped by the Kerala Blasters on the 12th of January 2020. Apart from that game, the Kolkata-based outfit has seemed imperious, scoring 17 goals and conceding only 5 at home.
Thus, Chennaiyin have a gargantuan task on their hands trying to return from Kolkata with three points tucked in their kitty. Moreover, the Marina Machans’ propensity to leave themselves open to the counter attack could play into ATK’s hands, considering that particular avenue represents Antonio Habas’ side’s most potent attacking weapon.
However, with so much at stake, one can expect Chennaiyin to make ATK work hard for the victory, although the former might ultimately, just come a cropper.
Score Prediction: ATK 2-1 Chennaiyin FC
Jamshedpur FC vs FC Goa (19th February 2020)
Another game that won’t have much impact on the top four, although it does hold massive significance for FC Goa. Courtesy the alteration in rules, the team that finishes the league stages at the top of the charts is set to gain entry into next season’s AFC Champions League, meaning that that is something the Gaurs would be targeting.
And, though Goa face the prospect of travelling to the Furnace on their final match-day, they might fancy themselves to finish their league campaign with a victory.
Despite the departure of Sergio Lobera, the Gaurs have looked superb and it would take a brave man to bet on them dropping points, especially against a defensively shaky defensive outfit.
While Goa too have been prone to the odd defensive lapse, they boast enough offensive pedigree to ease past the Red Miners on the 19th of February.
Score Prediction: Jamshedpur FC 1-3 FC Goa
NorthEast United FC vs Hyderabad FC (20th February 2020)
The encounter on the 20th pits two of the ISL’s bottom dwellers against each other. Thus, there could be a temptation for either side to ransack the other to symbolise their dominance, although Hyderabad FC would still not finish above the foot of the table, even with a victory.
However, with both teams playing for pride, one could expect them to have a go at each other and put the other under strife. And, if the recent game between Jamshedpur FC and NorthEast United is any indicator, one can expect the net to be rippled plenty of times in this contest.
Score Predictor: NorthEast United 2-2 Hyderabad FC
Mumbai City FC vs Chennaiyin FC (21st February 2020)
Arguably the most clutch clash of the ISL takes place on the 21st of February at the Mumbai Football Arena. At that juncture, both sides could find themselves embroiled in a potential quarter-final, with the winner all but guaranteed a spot in the semi-final on the 29th of February. Mumbai City FC were extremely scrappy in their opening three home games, with FC Goa and Odisha FC walloping them 4-2 in two of those fixtures. Since then though, they’ve lost just a solitary match at the Arena. During that period, they’ve staved off the challenge of Bengaluru FC whereas they also held their own against Hyderabad FC, despite enduring numerical inferiority.
Furthermore, they would come into the encounter on the back of two successive home wins, meaning that the feel-good factor could just power them over the finish line.
Chennaiyin, meanwhile, would most probably have their momentum saturated by the time they make the trip to Mumbai, thereby making their challenge considerably tougher.
Hence, the 21st of February could probably be the day when the Marina Machans’ late surge comes unstuck.
Score Prediction: Mumbai City FC 2-1 Chennaiyin FC
Bengaluru FC vs ATK (22nd February 2020)
The match at the Kanteerava could have huge implications on which side qualifies for the AFC Champions League next term. Despite the Blues not hitting their offensive straps in 2019-20, they still boast a healthy record at their fortress.
Additionally, apart from the fixture against Mumbai City FC, the defending champions haven’t conceded more than one goal in a single game. Thus, the encounter could morph into a tense and cagey affair, wherein both sides could cancel each other out, considering ATK are also not as gung-ho as some of the other outfits across the ISL.
Unsurprisingly, the contest could end deadlocked, although both sides might make the net bulge once.
Score Prediction: Bengaluru FC 1-1 ATK
Odisha FC vs Kerala Blasters (23rd February 2020)
By the time Odisha’s final fixture rolls into town, they would have had their qualification hopes dashed, meaning that they might showcase just a touch of complacency, considering their season would’ve ended in disappointment.
The Blasters, on the other hand, would be hoping for one final splash before they embark into the 2019-20 ISL sunset. And, with Odisha FC already looking ahead to next season, the visitors could just pull off the unlikeliest of surprises at the Kalinga Stadium.
After all, Kerala seem to possess one great performance in them and it could come at the Juggernauts’ expense.
Score Prediction: Odisha FC 1-2 Kerala Blasters
NorthEast United FC vs Chennaiyin FC (25th February 2020)
Similar to Odisha FC, Chennaiyin FC’s qualification aspirations would have been extinguished when they make the trip to Guwahati for their final fixture of the ISL campaign.
Unlike the Juggernauts though, the Marina Machans would be itching to prove their credentials and highlight that the run of four successive victories in January and early February wasn’t a flash in the pan.
Additionally, the players would want to make their places secure with stellar performances as Owen Coyle gears up for his first full season in charge.
Thus, there are plenty of sub-plots that could help the Marina Machans muster the requisite motivation to surge past NorthEast United, who incidentally, might begin a proper search for Robert Jarni’s successor only after the encounter.
Score Prediction: NorthEast United FC 0-2 Chennaiyin FC
Verdict
Keeping each of the predictions in mind, one can expect Mumbai City FC to pip teams of the ilk of Chennaiyin FC and Odisha FC to fourth spot, meaning that the Islanders would ensure themselves another crack at a maiden ISL crown.
Elsewhere, Hyderabad FC could unwantedly etch their names into ISL folklore by becoming the first side to accumulate a sub-10 points tally whereas FC Goa could confirm their participation in the AFC Champions League next season, courtesy their stupendous end to the campaign.
NorthEast United and Kerala Blasters, on the other hand, would be marooned on 9th and 8th respectively with both sides eagerly awaiting the start of the next season to give a better account of themselves and end their ISL hoodoo.
ATK and Bengaluru FC, meanwhile, would clash swords in the semi-final with a titanic tussle in store for the fans whereas Mumbai might have to face their kryptonite, FC Goa in the penultimate stage of the competition.
