ISL 2024: Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs Hyderabad FC; What To Expect
Mohun Bagan Super Giant will face Hyderabad FC in an Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 encounter on Wednesday, October 30th, 2024, at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Gachibowli, Hyderabad, with kick-off scheduled for 7:30 pm IST. Mariners are on a winning streak as ISL champions in the previous season and try to extend their winning spree against Hyderabad FC; meanwhile, the host Hyderabad FC seeks to capitalise on its win to continue its winning in the league. Hyderabad FC Hyderabad FC go into this game with much more confidence after thrashing Mohammedan SC 4-0 in Kolkata. That was a win that ended otherwise frightening seven-match winless streak, something the side has experienced somewhat over recent seasons. Hyderabad dominated the game against Mohammedan and showed a lot about their attacking effectiveness. So, the team was actually successful in converting 36.4% of their shots into goals, which does speak about their potential at their best. Hyderabad will look to register back-to-back wins, something which the team hasn’t achieved since that great run between December 2022 and February 2023. Hyderabad FC’s forwards have looked deadly going forward but if they can repeat that kind of efficiency, that will be something else. It is very rare for Hyderabad to have managed to maintain such a high conversion rate in ISL history; they have managed it once, in back-to-back games when the conversion percentage crossed 30%. For Hyderabad, looking to play against Mohun Bagan Super Giant, they’ll look to continue their recent attacking rhythm while testing the Mariners’ defence, who have shown a great ability to dig in. Mohun Bagan SuperGiant Mohun Bagan Super Giant Approach Game with Solid Defences After winning only once in the last seven matches between them, Mohun Bagan Super Giant seems to be all set to continue their domination when they take on Hyderabad FC in today’s match. Mariners have six clean sheets against Hyderabad FC. They were able to hold two victories last season. As they look to keep their momentum going up in the league, Mohun Bagan will count heavily on consistency in open play as well as set pieces, having already scored six times from set pieces this season, the most in the league, making them very potent from dead-ball situations. This season, Mohun Bagan’s attack was a cohesive unit that kept creating chances from multiple channels, keeping opponents on their toes. However, they are going to be wary of a reinvigorated Hyderabad FC, who are capable of springing some surprises on home turf. Players To Watch Midfielder Lalengmawia Ralte, the one who with 18 tackles in the league wins this season for Mohun Bagan, one of them who has shown consistency as well and thereby providing base for the team making a difference in this season, to break up attacks of opponents and transition it forward which in turn lets him decide the tempo in the mid of the field. On the other side, Hyderabad FC defender Alex Saji has anchored his team’s defensive efforts with exceptional consistency, tallying 87 clearances this season – a league-best alongside teammate Muhammed Rafi. Saji’s knack for timely clearances has played a pivotal role in Hyderabad FC’s defensive resilience, particularly in high-pressure situations. Manvir Singh is going to be one more for the books for Mohun Bagan. He is the biggest goal-getter for them against Hyderabad. Four times he has scored for Mohun Bagan against Hyderabad-the highest by any ISL opponent against him. Still, he doesn’t have a single strike in the last seven games against Hyderabad and has eyes on him as to whether he can break the jinx. With both teams looking to consolidate their positions in the ISL standings, this Wednesday’s encounter is promised to be a thrilling affair as a resurgent Hyderabad FC takes on a Mohun Bagan side that has been delivering quality performances regularly. Hyderabad FC needs to now look to build from the victory of the recently won game and convert this attacking promise into a consecutive run whereas Mohun Bagan has to maintain their defence along with attacking well to remain on top of Hyderabad FC. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
ISL 2024: Mohun Bagan SG vs East Bengal FC; What To Expect
The iconic Kolkata Derby is back with Mohun Bagan Super Giant taking on arch-rivals East Bengal FC in what promises to be a riveting match under the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season. The game is scheduled for Saturday, October 19 at the historic Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, popularly known as the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. It will be interesting to see which team will be bouncing back from two tough starts into a hopefully calmer home showdown with two winless clubs. With the city buzzing in anticipation, this storied rivalry brings with it a rich history and fierce competition, and both teams will be looking to reverse their challenging starts to the season. A Tale of Two Struggling Teams At ISL 2024 East Bengal FC is the first team in the ISL 2024-25 to lose all of its first four matches and is frantically searching for the maiden points, a club low in the history of that club. On the other hand, an attacking fire-power that has been banging in seven goals in the opening four games has hurt Mohun Bagan Super Giant in its fragile defense. Both teams have much to prove so this version of the derby is all the more crucial. Mariners In Form Mohun Bagan Super Giant goes into the derby, having galvanized confidence from an authoritative 3-0 win over Mohammedan SC. Head coach Jose Molina would like to carry that forward, becoming the first side to win successive matches and collect successive clean sheets for this season. Mariners have scored in all of their last 12 ISL matches at the Salt Lake Stadium and are among the second-highest scoring sides by any team at a single venue in a calendar year – after netting 29 in 2024. Statistically, Mohun Bagan has been the most efficient attacking unit this season. They average 7.3 shots on target per game with a league best shooting accuracy of 55.8%, making them a daunting challenge for any opposition defence. East Bengal FC Struggles And Their Quest To Redeem Themselves East Bengal FC faces this derby at a very crucial point of their season. Winless in their last eight ISL derbies against Mohun Bagan, the Red and Gold Brigade have conceded at least two goals in every one of those matches. It is the chance for them to reverse the trend this season and take home a much-needed win. Though his team has struggled under him, head coach Bino George remains confident in the management’s squad and is positive that his team will get through the game with all the strategies right. Players To Watch Out For Madih Talal from East Bengal FC has made East Bengal indispensable as he tops the chart with his passes ending in the final third of the pitch at 83 and also tops the list in successful passes in that area with 63 passes in the 2024-25 ISL season. His vision and his sense of playing orchestration will be superb for the Red and Gold Brigade. Dimitri Petratos from Mohun Bagan Super Giant has been very consistent in the Kolkata Derby, with five goal contributions from previous derbies. But he has scored only once out of six ISL matches, and it would be a vital game to leave a mark for him. Will East Bengal Break Their Derby Curse? The Kolkata Derby is always an affair to remember, and this one did promise to be one as well. Mohun Bagan Super Giant has dominated in recent times when the two teams play against each other, but East Bengal is on its way to try to seal a turnaround in fortunes here. Will this be the match that stretches the Mariners’ dominance over the Boro or can East Bengal break free from the shackles and secure a memorable victory? The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
ISL 2024: FC Goa vs Mumbai City FC; What To Expect
The Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 doubleheader on Saturday, 19th October, 2024 features a very closely contested match with FC Goa up against Mumbai City FC at the Fatorda Stadium at 5:00 pm IST. The cause for excitement is more because of the rivalry that exists between the two teams, as one dominated other periods of the league. Until the 2019-20 campaign, Mumbai City FC had always been on the back foot against FC Goa. That now seems to have turned in favor of the latter as Sergio Lobera has joined their side. During the league stage of the previous season, both teams did manage to share the spoils with each other, but in the two-legged affair in the semi-final, Mumbai City FC had come out triumphant. New Chapter In ISL 2024 Post The International Break Today, Mumbai City FC seek the first win of the season, drawing two and losing one in the first three played matches. It is an away match for them as they are 11th on the table. FC Goa comes into this match having picked five points from four matches. It shall be a return to action for both teams as they come from international break. FC Goa Headaches in Home Games FC Goa must work on duels per game as they average the least in the league at 77.5 per match. Their last three matches played at home haven’t been great too as they couldn’t register a victory at Fatorda. The Gaurs will look to avoid a repeat of the longer winless streak back in 2018 when they lost their last four home games consecutively. For head coach Manolo Marquez, some thing or stage must change through this game as FC Goa faces a strong Mumbai City FC. Mumbai City FC Rolls Against FC Goa Mumbai City FC has been on the better side of things against Goa in recent seasons, failing to lose any of their last 12 encounters, winning seven, drawing five. That includes semi-final triumphs in the 2020-21 and 2023-24 seasons. The Islanders have several strengths, including wearing down their opponents with wave after wave of attacking movements. They average passes in the final third have been a formidable 70 per game. They need to improve in their front-line activities going forward, as clearly stated during their nil-nil draw against Bengaluru FC in their previous match. Head-To-Head In head to head battles, Mumbai City FC has utterly dominated the table with FC Goa with 12 victories out of 26 games played against FC Goa. FC Goa has won seven, and seven matches each end in draws. Players To Watch Out For Lallianzuala Chhangte has been productive against FC Goa in the past, with five goals and two assists against them. His tally of nine goals against the Gaurs is the highest by any player in ISL history. FC Goa’s Armando Sadiku will spearhead the attack with his six shot attempts per game, the highest in the league this season. On the other hand, Mumbai’s Tiri has been indispensible on defense with his four headed clearances per game, a number that is equalled by just a few players in the ISL 2024-25 season. Who will Reign? This is going to be an important game for both teams as they seek to redeem their seasons. Having Mumbai City FC look to continue their unbeaten run, it remains to be seen if the team will take this into the match, or FC Goa finally making a break into showing their full form on the field. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
ISL 2024: NorthEast United FC vs Chennaiyin FC; What To Expect
NorthEast United FC and Chennaiyin FC will battle it out on Thursday, 17th October, 2024 at 7:30 PM IST in the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati, in the matchweek five of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25. As ISL returns from the international break, both teams are very eager to get back into the momentum of winning as the league resumes. NorthEast United NorthEast United FC will look to recover from the last game, in which they conceded a two-goal advantage to gain a disappointing 3-3 draw at the hands of FC Goa. Although losing the last three games consecutively, the Highlanders have been one of the more potent teams attacking in the league, netting seven goals from an expected goals value of 3.17. Chennaiyin FC Of course, Chennaiyin FC could not have arrived in Guwahati with much hope as they went on to play a 0-0 draw against the 10-man Hyderabad FC. They do show attacking intent; they have had the highest shot attempts per game at 19.3 but only three of them have been back of the net. The head coach Owen Coyle admitted the strength of NorthEast United however said that his team can most certainly challenge the Highlanders and hang out with the best in the league. Head-to-Head Statistically, Chennaiyin FC are the favorites with eight wins in 20 matches played so far. NorthEast United, though, have been a tricky team to crack at home, losing only two of the eight home encounters against Chennaiyin FC. The 3-0 win against the visitors last season will work strongly for the Highlanders before this encounter. Key Players Key players to look out for in this match include Connor Shields of Chennaiyin FC, who has created 12 chances this season, and Parthib Gogoi from NorthEast United, who is a target to break the record as the top Indian goal contributor in this match. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
ISL 2024: Five Countries With Most Players At ISL 2024-25
Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25, is cruising on full throttle. The clubs are fighting aggressively in all matches to hold the precious three points in the end. With an aim to complement the Indian team, each club can have six foreign players in their roster; hence it makes it imperative for the teams to splurge on talented foreign recruits and get superiority in competition. Under this scenario, we look at the top five countries, except India, that have the greatest number of foreign players involved in the ISL 2024-25 season. Countries With Most Players At ISL 2024-25 5. France – 4 players The most representatives ever from one country that has featured in the league this season is four Frenchmen: Madih Talal at East Bengal FC, Jeremy Manzorro at Mumbai City FC, Alexandre Coeff at Kerala Blasters, and Florent Ogier at Mohammedan FC. France also had legends Nicolas Anelka and David Trezeguet featured in their heydays of playing for various Indian clubs in the past seasons of the ISL. 4. Morocco – 6 players The talent pool that Morocco holds never ceases to amaze- six players represented the country in the ISL this season. Among the key performers in the country include Ahmed Jahouh, Hugo Boumous, Mohammed Ali Bemammer, Noah Sadaoui, Alaeddine Ajaraie, and Hamza Regragui. The Moroccan players have dominated at a higher percentage of 7.6% in the league. 3. Australia – 7 players The clubs in ISL are still keen on signing the Australian players even after axing the Asian foreign player rule. Seven Australians have appeared this season with a remarkable three at Mohun Bagan Super Giant: Jason Cummings, Jamie Maclaren, and Dimitri Petratos. More Australians include Jaushua Sitario, Jordan Murray, Ryan Williams, and Aleksandar Jovanovic. 2. Brazil – 7 players Brazil shares the second spot with Australia, having seven players in the ISL, representing 8.9% of the foreign players. The team has some well known players like Diego Mauricio and Cleiton Silva apart from Elsinho, Lukas Brambilla, Franca, and Andrei Alba who are all vital for their respective teams. 1. Spain – 18 players The league is topped far and away by Spain, who have 18 players representing them this season, an incredible 22.8% of the foreign player count, which makes it still one of the biggest providers of foreign talent to the ISL. And among the foreign talent, the crème de la crème is divided between the likes of Michel Zabaco, Borja Herrera, Tiri and Carlos Delgado, all of whom have played their part for their respective sides. The ISL is still attracting top talent from around the globe, and Spain, Brazil, Australia, Morocco, and France have sent the most foreign players of the season so far. These set of players play a major role in bringing a competitive level to the league, something global stars bring an international flavor to Indian football. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
ISL 2024: Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs Mohammedan SC; What To Expect
The Kolkata Derby is all set to create quite a buzz in the stadium on Saturday, 5 October, 2024 with Mohun Bagan Super Giant colliding head-on with Mohammedan SC in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season at Salt Lake Stadium. What’s In Store? With four points from the first three matches, the team that emerges victorious from this encounter will take a well-timed psychological advantage as this matches up the fourth and final one before the international break. Mohun Bagan’s Plan Of Action It is one of the biggest games in derby history since it shall be the first-ever encounter of these two sides in the league. Mohun Bagan sports an excellent track record against new starters, seven victories in eleven matches and shall look to do just that. Mariners head coach Jose Molina admits his side has shown some weaker streaks on defence lines where it has suffered three goals in as many games. He puts forth the requirement for improvement from both attack and the back end. Mohammedan SC’s Momentum The win over Chennaiyin FC made Mohammedan SC the fifth team to achieve a first away win in ISL history. Key Players Mohammedan SC’s Mirjalol Kasimov and Mohun Bagan’s Dimitrios Petratos are some of the key men to watch out for. Kasimov is on the roll in winning fouls, which will create set-piece opportunities, and Dimitrios Petratos is one appearance away from reaching the landmark 50th game. Both teams promise and strive and this is not going to be an ordinary Kolkata football encounter-they are going to be attacking and not half-hearted. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
ISL 2024: Jamshedpur FC vs East Bengal FC; What To Expect
It is going to be an absolute cracker of an Indian Super League (ISL) 2024 contest as Jamshedpur FC host East Bengal FC at the JRD Tata Sports Complex on 5th October, 2024 at 5 PM IST. Agenda For Jamshedpur FC Presently standing third in the table with six points from three matches, Jamshedpur FC will look to gain out from the loss they suffered in the last game against Odisha FC. East Bengal FC Miseries East Bengal FC are enduring a bad patch at the bottom of the table with three successive defeats under caretaker coach Bino George. The Red & Gold Brigade will be looking to correct their away record, where they have won only two matches out of their last ten such encounters. However, they had won in Jamshedpur recently when they defeated the former 3-1 in November 2022. Head-To-Head Jamshedpur FC and East Bengal FC have met each other eight times in the ISL. On three occasions, the Men of Steel won the match. On two occasions, East Bengal have triumphed. Three ended in a stalemate. Players To Watch East Bengal’s Cleiton Silva, with three goals the highest tally in this match and Jamshedpur’s Jordan Murray, who has held over ten duels in his last six matches. Preparing For Next Match These are two teams looking to make their mark in the early stages of ISL season. As both the teams look forward to gaining some momentum, this is sure to be a critical clash. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
ISL 2024: Odisha FC vs Kerala Blasters FC; What To Expect
The upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 encounter at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, will see Odisha FC clash with Kerala Blasters FC on Thursday, October 3, at 7:30 pm IST. ISL 2024 Season so Far Both teams had so far made an uneven performance in the season with one win each from three opening games. Odisha FC had coined a name for the team-the Juggernauts, managed to win its first game of the season by beating Jamshedpur FC 2-1. Kerala Blasters FC could only play out a 1-1 draw against NorthEast United FC in its last encounter. Odisha FC’s Dominance Over Kerala Blasters FC With Sergio Lobera at the helm, Odisha FC will take on Kerala Blasters with an impressive winning record. Having won nine of their last eleven ISL encounters against Kerala Blasters, his success rate stands at a whopping 82%. That’s the highest success rate he has achieved against any team for whom he has played at least five times in the tournament. Odisha FC need to not take this fact lightly as they try to consolidate on their win going forward and move up the ladder. Agenda For Kerala Blasters FC Under head coach Mikael Stahre, Kerala Blasters FC will be hoping to improve their dismal form away from home. The team has managed to win just once in eight matches played away from home this calendar year and have conceded in all of those matches. Stahre is more than happy with how his team has been progressing, though he’s not entirely satisfied with the way things have been going for his team. Kerala Blasters have shown glimpses of solidity but haven’t yet gotten into a rhythm at full steam. Head to Head Kerala Blasters FC lead with nine wins in the 23 games played between these two, while Odisha FC won seven and the other seven matches were drawn. Key Players Odisha FC has Mourtada Fall, who recently became part of history, as he is the player who equalled the ISL record for the maximum headed goals scored in a single season with 18 headed goals. Kerala Blasters will have the services of Noah Sadaoui, the player who scored four goals against Odisha-his career best against any team. As the rivalry between Odisha FC and Kerala Blaster resume, fans anticipate an action packed clash. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
ISL 2024: Hyderabad FC vs Chennaiyin FC; What To Expect
Hyderabad FC will host Chennaiyin FC on Tuesday, 01st of October, 2024 as both teams hope to bounce back from defeat into the Matchweek 4 of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25. Hyderabad FC was defeated 2-0 by Punjab FC, while Chennaiyin FC lost out 1-0 to Mohammedan SC. Defensive Resilience Hyderabad FC have been impenetrable in front of defenses against Chennaiyin FC in the last few games. In their last eight ISL meetings, Hyderabad have conceded one or fewer goals, with four wins, drawn twice and have lost just twice. Hyderabad FC haven’t allowed Chennaiyin to score more than one goal in a match since January 2020, where Chennaiyin won 3-1. Chennaiyin’s Goal-Scoring Streak The Chennaiyin side can exploit any weakness in Hyderabad’s defense as they have scored at least once in each of their last four away games. That too comes after a series of four matches without a back of the net before the current streak of scoring goals, making it all the more impressive. Head-to-Head Both teams are neck and neck as both teams have won four games from their ten previous meetings in the ISL, while two matches have ended as draws. Players to Watch Out For Some of the names to look out for include Chennaiyin FC’s Farukh Choudhary, who has registered eight shots from inside the box so far this season, and Abdul Rabeeh of Hyderabad FC with 50 touches inside the opposition’s box since the beginning of 2024. Daniel Chima Chukwu of Chennaiyin FC will also be a threat as he scored five goals against Hyderabad FC, including getting a hat-trick in the last edition. The stakes are high and this game can ultimately form the perfect recipe for a thrilling clash at Gachibowli, where both teams would be desperate to return to winning ways. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
ISL 2024: Bengaluru FC vs Mohun Bagan Super Giant; What To Expect
This Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 7:30 PM IST, Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru will host a mega-showdown as Bengaluru FC will lock horns with Mohun Bagan Super Giant in an Indian Super League (ISL) game that promises more twists than a last-minute penalty shootout. Well this is what you can expect from today’s clash at ISL 2024. Bengaluru FC Under head coach Gerard Zaragoza, Bengaluru FC have turned their home ground into a fortress. They had suffered only one defeat from the last nine games and that too an unbelievable 0-4 defeat at the hands of Mohun Bagan last season. Two successive wins against East Bengal and Hyderabad FC finally set their camp enthused to avenge that humbling experience. Mohun Bagan Super Giant The Mariners are just the goal-scoring machinery, scoring 43 open play goals since last season and leaving Bengaluru FC’s 18 goals far behind. This combination of Mohun Bagan is going to entertain the football fans with their attacking play. Tactical Showdown Zaragoza knows that strength in depth is the key, and fresh legs could make a difference in the final minutes. In contrast, Jose Molina is charging his team to intensify their good run of 3-1 win over NorthEast United. Head-to-Head Historically, Mohun Bagan Super Giant has had the better of six of nine recorded encounters. Bengaluru FC will look to turn things on their head and prove that this season is their season! Players To Watch Out For On Bengaluru’s side, watch for Rahul Bheke, who had 102 touches in the last ISL game and Sunil Chhetri with four penalties this season. For Mohun Bagan, Jason Cummings needs one more goal to reach his tenth goal this season, while Dimitri Petratos looks to better contribute to Roy Krishna’s. So keep your jerseys, popcorn and seats ready, for tonight is going to be an epic showdown in ISL 2024. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
