FC Goa aim top spot, while Sporting Club Delhi will chase their first win

FC Goa played out a 1-1 draw in their last home game with Inter Kashi

The points table in the 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) season is beginning to take shape as East Bengal, Mohun Bagan SG, Mumbai City, and Jamshedpur FC have picked up wins in both their games so far. Closely following the top four are FC Goa and Bengaluru FC, who have picked up four points and are fighting for the ISL Cup.

The Gaurs welcome the rebranded Sporting Club Delhi side to the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Thursday. With three crucial points up for grabs, Manolo Marquez’s side will be the favourites on paper for this game.

The Stakes

FC Goa

FC Goa picked up a 2-0 win against Mohammedan SC last Friday. Their two foreigners – Pol Moreno and Dejan Drazic got on the scoresheet to win all three points away from home.

Currently sitting sixth in the points table, a win in their game against SC Delhi will take Goa to the top of the table at least for a day.

SC Delhi

A 4-1 loss to East Bengal on Saturday means that SC Delhi are still searching for their first win since being rebranded ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Sporting Club Delhi are currently at the foot of the table with a -5-goal difference, something that they would have to overturn immediately to not find themselves in the relegation battle near the end of the season.

Injury concerns and team news

There are no major injury concerns in the FC Goa and the SC Delhi squads ahead of their ISL 2025-26 fixture in Fatorda.

Head-to-Head stats

This is the first time that SC Delhi will be playing against FC Goa.

FC Goa had a good record against Hyderabad FC, winning six of their twelve games against the Nizams before the club moved to Delhi. It has to be seen if they can start on the right foot against SC Delhi as well.

Predicted line-ups

FC Goa (4-2-3-1)

Hrithik Tiwari (GK), Aakash Sangwan, Sandesh Jhingan, Pol Moreno, Boris Singh, Ayush Chhetri, Sahil Tavora, Brison Fernandes, Udanta Singh, Dejan Drazic, Muhammed Valiyattil

SC Delhi (4-4-2)

Vishal Yadawad (GK), Manoj Mohammed, Clarence Fernandes, Rafael Riberio, Lamgoulen, Mohammed Aimen, Mohammed Azhar, Abdul Hudu, Augustine Lalrochana, Joseph Sunny, Matija Babovic

Players to watchout

Dejan Drazic (FC Goa)

Should we look any further? Dejan Drazic remains the only foreign attacker at the club and he has made full use of it. The forward has found the back of the net in both opening ISL games and his versatility has helped Manolo Marquez with the tactics as well.

Aside from the ISL, The Serbian scored two goals in the AIFF Super Cup and was also on the scoresheet in Goa’s AFC Asian Champions League Two 2025-26 campaign. Expect him to continue his goalscoring run in the league.

Matija Babovic (SC Delhi)

Matija Babovic joined SC Delhi in the January transfer window of 2026. He has prior experience of playing in India with Dempo SC, Inter Kashi, and Gokulam Kerala. Though he is yet to get on the scoresheet in the ISL, Babovic should be able to settle down and gel quickly with teammates as his side desperately needs someone to lead the line and score the goals.

Did you know?

• SC Delhi have played six games as a club but are yet to win their first professional football game
• FC Goa were awarded penalties in both their ISL 2025-26 games
• Goa conceded just 27 goals in 24 ISL games last season, second only to Mohun Bagan

Telecast

The match between FC Goa vs SC Delhi will be played at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Thursday (26th February 2026). The game will kick-off at 7:30 pm IST. The match will be shown live on the Sony Ten Network. It will also be streamed online on FanCode App.

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