Margao, Jan 18 – FC Goa will look to re-establish their second position in the Indian Super League standings when they host East Bengal this Sunday, who are trying to return to their winning form.
The Gaurs currently sit in third place with 27 points from 15 matches and have just drawn three in their last five outings.
On the other hand, East Bengal find themselves at the 11th position with just 14 points from the same number of matches, desperate for consistency after suffering two consecutive defeats.
Notably, FC Goa enjoys a psychological advantage, having stringed together five consecutive victories against East Bengal FC.
Recently, the Gaurs slipped to third place following the draw between Jamshedpur FC and Mohun Bagan, underlining the urgency of a victory which would not only allow them to reclaim their second position but also keep their title hopes alive .
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On the offensive front, East Bengal have struggled this season, recording the lowest number of scoring chances in the league with just 126. Their tally of 16 goals is among the lowest, surpassed only by Hyderabad FC (11) and Mohammedan Sporting recruits (8).
For FC Goa, star player Armando Sadiku has scored nine goals this season, and with one more goal he would become the 11th player in the club’s history to reach ten goals in the ISL. His teammate Brison Fernandes also scored five goals, along with eight successful dribbles and 16 scoring chances – both of which will be vital to Goa’s quest for victory.
-Defensively, East Bengal will rely on Hijazi Maher, who has been solid, averaging 1.36 steals per game. Striker Naorem Mahesh Singh, with three goals and two assists to his name, is looking to end his goal drought against FC Goa this season.
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In their nine ISL encounters, FC Goa dominated with six wins and two draws, while East Bengal managed just one win, underlining the Gaurs’ superiority in this rivalry.
FC Goa coach Manolo Marquez reflected on the difficulties of the latter stages of the season, saying: “Every game is very difficult. We are in a moment where picking up points is complicated. But that’s football. We We need to focus on ourselves.” Meanwhile, East Bengal FC coach Oscar Bruzon has acknowledged his team’s gradual improvements as they strive to lay a solid foundation for future success.
“The team is slowly improving. We need to find the foundation to understand what East Bengal FC has traditionally stood for and what we need to do moving forward,” he added.
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