ISL 2023-24: Mohun Bagan vs NorthEast United: Preview, Predicted lineup, injury news, H2H, telecast details

Both teams will be upbeat to fetch another victory in the ongoing ISL season.

Mohun Bagan will look to maintain their impressive form under Antonio Habas when they host a confidant NorthEast United side at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata on Saturday. The Mariners are still undefeated under the new manager and are making their way up the Indian Super League (ISL) table. They will surely aim to maintain their winning run by putting the Highlanders to the sword.

The Stakes

Mohun Bagan

As Habas himself has indicated, Mohun Bagan need to focus on winning the rest of their games and fulfil their objectives to have a strong chance of winning the ISL shield. They have reasserted themselves right back into the running by breaking FC Goa’s unbeaten streak and now must look to bounce off that momentum to oust the Highlanders.

A third win in a row can do marvels into further maximizing their confidence levels and making the players believe in the title race. However, a draw or a loss at home can be another unnecessary setback that will make them stumble in the ISL title race charge.

NorthEast United

The Highlanders have themselves had a decent beginning to the second leg of the 2023/24 ISL season, picking up four out of a possible six points so far. NorthEast United are aiming for revenge after losing to the Mariners earlier in the campaign and are also providing an added boost to the top-six ambitions.

Losing this match could add more tensions to the Highlanders’ camp for their playoff chances because of the sheer competition for that sixth spot. A draw can actually be a decent result against this in-form Mohun Bagan side, but Juan Pedro Benali will push his side to shock the Mariners and take a lead in the top-six race with a win.

Injury and Team News

Mohun Bagan are still going to miss winger Ashique Kuruniyan and defender Brendan Hamill for this match. Anwar Ali could make a return to the squad.

NorthEast United have a fully fit unit available for this clash.

Head-to-Head

Matches Played – 9

Mohun Bagan Wins – 6

NorthEast United Wins – 2

Draws – 1

Predicted Lineups

Mohun Bagan (3-1-4-2)

Vishal Kaith (GK), Dippendu Biswas, Hector Yuste, Subashish Bose, Abhishek Suryavanshi, Manvir Singh, Joni Kauko, Sahal Abdul Samad, Liston Colaco, Dimitri Petratos, Jason Cummings

NorthEast United (4-2-3-1)

Mirshad Michu (GK), Dinesh Singh, Michel Zabaco, Asheer Akhtar, Buanthanglun Samte, Macarton Nickson, Mohammed Bemammer, Redeem Tlang, Nestor Albiach, Parthib Gogoi, Tomi Juric

Players to Watch

Sahal Abdul Samad (Mohun Bagan)

Sahal Abdul Samad has now gone five ISL games without a goal contribution for the Mariners after having a brilliant start to his career with the club. He’s still trying to find his rhythm after coming back from injury, but looks sharp in Habas’ current system – which is giving him a creative license to create chances.

Sahal will probably try to play further forward against the Highlanders in an effort to get back among the goals. He’ll try to get into more unpredictable areas in the final third and nail his delivery into the box to create chances for his teammates. The India international could also be given the license to roam into goal-scoring situations as he still searches for his first ISL goal in Mohun Bagan colours.

Tomi Juric (NorthEast United)

Tomi Juric has proven to be an inspired winter signing for NorthEast United and is giving them that spark in the final third that they missed earlier in the campaign. The 32-year-old produced a stellar performance in the win over East Bengal, scoring a brilliant brace thanks to two really well-taken goals.

Juric has that predatorial instinct in his game, being able to sniff out chances in the final third and terrorize defenders with his clever movement. He’ll try to destabilize the Mohun Bagan backline by being a thorn with his clever running, and aim to find the ball in key areas around the final third to get more shots on goal and finish off whatever chances are created for him on the day.

Did you know?

• Dimitri Petratos has created 22 chances in the ISL so far this season, the most by any Mohun Bagan player.
• NorthEast United are in a four-game unbeaten run in the ISL, with their last defeat coming to the Mariners in December.
• Mohun Bagan are still unbeaten under Antonio Habas, having won two of their three games under him so far.

Telecast

The Mohun Bagan vs NorthEast United game kicks off at 5 PM IST, at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata on February 17, 2024. Live telecast of the fixture will be available on the Sports18 Network (Sports18 1/VH1 channel). Live streaming of the game will be available on the JioCinema app. Viewers from abroad can use OneFootball to stream the game.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.