How should FC Goa line up against Al Zawraa SC in the opening ACL 2 fixture?

FC Goa will host Al Zawraa SC at the Fatorda Stadium on Wednesday.

FC Goa pulled out a top-notch performance last month as they beat Al Seeb 2-1 in the preliminary round to qualify for the AFC Champions League Two group stage. The Gaurs are matched up against Istiklol, Al Zawraa, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in Group D, with the top two teams moving ahead to the knockout rounds.

Manolo Marquez’s side will begin their AFC Champions League Two campaign against Al Zawraa on Wednesday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda. The Iraqi side finished second in their league last season and have won a total of 14 Iraq Stars League and 16 Iraq FA titles amongst their other accolades.

Going up against a formidable foe, here is how FC Goa could line up for their upcoming ACL2 clash:

Formation: 4-4-2

Goalkeeper: Hrithik Tiwari

Hrithik Tiwari has become FC Goa’s number one choice goalkeeper under Manolo Marquez and unless there is an injury, the 23-year-old will be starting against Al Zawraa. The goalkeeper made 23 starts last season and also started the game against Al Seeb.

Right Back: Boris Thangjam

Boris Thangjam started the game against Al-Seeb and had a decent game overall. While he was tested throughout, the wingback did well defensively and also created a few goal-scoring chances for FC Goa in what was a tough fixture.

Centre Back: Pol Moreno

With Sandesh Jhingan sidelined by the jaw fracture he picked up while playing for India, Pol Moreno will have to step up and lead FC Goa’s defense. The Spaniard has a wealth of experience and made excellent blocks and interceptions against Al Seeb on his debut for the ISL club.

Centre Back: Nim Dorjee

All eyes will be on Nim Dorjee in FC Goa’s defence as he will be the likely replacement for Sandesh Jhingan. The centre back played eight games in the Indian Super League last season but was not up to the mark. He will surely be keen to bring out his best in this crucial AFC Champions League Two game.

Left Back: Aakash Sangwan

Aakash Sangwan has cemented his place as FC Goa’s left back since joining the club last summer. The 29-year-old’s crosses will be equally important as his defensive contributions with the Gaurs aiming for a positive start.

Right Wing: Udanta Singh

Udanta Singh scored for India against Oman in the recently concluded CAFA Nations Cup, helping the Blue Tigers finish third in the tournament. He also scored quite a few important goals for the Gaurs in the ISL last season and is the favourite to start on the right.

Central Midfield: David Timor

FC Goa’s summer acquisition of David Timor proved pivotal in the game against Al-Seeb. The 35-year-old made crucial blocks and interceptions and Manolo Marquez will expect a similar performance from Timor against Al Zawraa.

Central Midfield: Borja Herrera

Borja Herrera’s contributions in the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 played a crucial role in helping the Gaurs win and qualify for ACL2 in the first place. The 32-year-old is the team’s provider in-chief and his role will be crucial once again on Wednesday.

Left Wing: Dejan Drazic

The Serbian was retained by FC Goa after an average 2024-25 ISL season. But Dejan Drazic proved his manager right and began the scoring against Al-Seeb in the preliminary round. Expect Dejan to have a busy night once again as the Gaurs face Al Zawraa.

Forward: Javier Siverio

Signed from Jamshedpur FC in the summer, Javier Siverio’s 52nd minute goal against Al-Seeb turned out to be the winner in FC Goa’s 2-1 win over Al-Seeb. The forward has the knack of being in the right place at the right time. His aerial presence is another asset that the Gaurs will rely on.

Forward: Iker Guarrotxena

Iker Guarrotxena has been FC Goa’s wild card and will continue to be so against Al-Zawraa. The Spaniard can play upfront, drop to link up with the midfield and also provide quality passes. All in all, if Iker has a good game, so do FC Goa as a whole.

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