Mumbai City FC vs FC Goa: Team News, Tactics, Lineups And Predictions

Image Courtesy a Indian Super League Media Team.

Mumbai City FC

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V

FC Goa

1900 IST, 25 October, 2015

D.Y. Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai

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The 21st match of Indian Super League (ISL) 2015 between Mumbai City FC and FC Goa will take place on 25 October 2015 at Mumbai’s iconic D. Y. Patil Stadium. FC Goa will be looking to consolidate their lead at the top of the table when they take on bottom of the table Mumbai City FC in a must win encounter for the latter. FC Goa have had a fantastic start to their ISL campaign, after registering 3 wins, a draw and a loss in their first five matches. They will be hoping to pile on more misery on a struggling Mumbai side, who have won just one match all season. A win for Mumbai however, will propel them to 5th place in the league table.

Team News and Tactical Brief:

Mumbai City FC

Mumbai City FC will be buoyed by their maiden win in the competition over the Delhi Dynamos on Wednesday. Manager and marquee signing Nicolas Anelka is expected to make his appearance for the club this season against the table toppers though it is likely to happen late in the game. Singam Subhash Singh will line upfront alongside Indian national team captain Sunil Chhetri, who’s brace against the Dynamos gave Mumbai their first win of the season. Chhetri’ s form will indeed be a big boost for the side from Mumbai and they wlll be hoping that the Indian striker can continue from where he left off against Delhi Dynamos.

Wingers Gabriel and Norde will support the two strikers upfront by lining up on the flanks against Goa. Aguilera and Cristian Bustos will play in front of the defence as the double pivot in central midfield. Lalchhuanmawia Fanai and Aitor are expected to retain their left-back and right-back positions respectively in the Mumbai starting lineup. Pavel Cmovs and Darren O’Dea, who performed admirably against the Dynamos, will continue in central defence.

Probable Starting Lineup (4-4-2): Pal (GK); Cmovs, O’Dea, Fanai, Aitor; Aguilera, Bustos, Gabriel, Norde, Chhetri, Singam.

FC Goa:

High-flying FC Goa are likely to field the same starting lineup against Mumbai City FC as they did in their 2-1 win over the Kerala Blasters on Thursday. Goa born Laxmikant Kattimani is expected to continue in goal for the away side. In absence of Keenan Almedia who is recovering from a bout of fever, Narayan Das, who is a constant menace on the left, will continue at left-back. Fellow fullback Nicolau Colaco will start at right-back. Gregory and Sobrosa will be hoping to continue their excellent partnership at the center of the Goa defence when they lineup against the in form Sunil Chhetri on Sunday.

Halder, Lucca and Bikramjit will start in midfield behind the attacking trio of Reinaldo, Duffy and Moura for the table toppers. Moura, who scored against the Blasters in his last match for the club, is expected to cause significant problems for the Mumbai defence.

Probable Starting Lineup (4-3-3): Laxmikant (GK); Colaco, Das, Sobrosa, Gregory; Lucca, Halder, Bikramjit, Moura, Duffy, Reinaldo.

Predictions:

Mumbai City FC 2-1 FC Goa

Mumbai City FC will be hoping to extend their winning run by notching up their second consecutive victory in this year’s edition of the Indian Super League when they take on a dangerous FC Goa side. The home side have clearly been lifted by the return of star striker Sunil Chhetri, who’s presence up top gives them that extra spark in front of goal.

Having conceded the most number of goals in the league so far (7), FC Goa will do well to keep out a red hot Sunil Chhetri. With bottom placed Mumbai in desperate need for points, an attacking match up between the two teams is expected to ensue at the D Y Patil stadium. A rejuvenated Mumbai City FC will trump table toppers FC Goa by a one goal margin.