Mohun Bagan vs Punjab FC lineups, team news, prediction & preview

Punjab FC sit at the 9th spot in the ISL table.

Mohun Bagan are looking for their third straight win in the Indian Super League (ISL) when they host Punjab FC at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata on Wednesday (5 February).

The Mariners can take another step closer to clinching the ISL Shield championship but have to be wary of an unpredictable Punjab FC side desperate to get closer to the playoff spot.

The Stakes

Mohun Bagan

For Mohun Bagan, consistency is key for them to retain the ISL league shield successfully. The Mariners need a few more wins to make the championship their own and Jose Molina will not let them slack off until the target is met.

Mohun Bagan will look to maintain their impressive home form by playing slick attacking football and be especially decisive on set-pieces, an area where they’ve dominated in the 2024-2 ISL campaign. A win will be a huge booster to help the player maintain their form and march onto the title, but a draw or a loss will be an unnecessary hiccup in their push for the trophy.

Punjab FC

Punjab FC have been able to inch closer to the playoff spot in the ISL table with some admirable results in recent weeks, but they are still quite far away from that sixth position. The Shers need a big win to really boost their chances of closing in on the likes of Mumbai City and Bengaluru FC, as well as to prove their ability against the best the ISL has to offer.

Punjab FC will need to be especially prolific in the transitions and fast breaks to trouble Mohun Bagan, and they need to be at their sharpest defensively. A win can significantly boost Punjab FC’s ability to reach a playoff spot, but a loss can be a big setback to those aspirations.

Team & Injury News

Anirudh Thapa remains a doubt as he pushes to regain full fitness after an injury. Alberto Rodriguez could return to action after missing the last game due to an injury. Asmir Suljić is suspended for the match after picking up his fourth yellow card of the season against Bengaluru FC.

Head-to-Head

Total matches – 3

Mohun Bagan wins – 3

Punjab FC wins – 0

Draws – 0

Predicted Lineups

Mohun Bagan (4-2-3-1)

Vishal Kaith (GK), Asish Rai, Tom Aldred, Alberto Rodriguez, Subhasish Bose, Lalengmawia Ralte, Deepak Tangri, Manvir Singh, Greg Stewart, Liston Colaco, Jamie Maclaren

Punjab FC (4-2-3-1)

Ravi Kumar (GK), Khaiminthang Lhungdim, Suresh Meitei, Ivan Novoselec, Abhishek Singh, Nikhil Prabhu, Filip Mrzljak, Muhammad Suhail, Ezequiel Vidal, Nihal Sudeesh, Luka Majcen

Players to Watch

Manvir Singh (Mohun Bagan)

Coming into the game at the back of an excellent display against Mohammedan Sporting, Manvir Singh will be eager to maintain his goal-scoring run. The 29-year-old has excelled in Jose Molina’s system this season, with the brace in the last game taking his tally to eight goal contributions (five goals, three assists) so far.

Singh can be a menacing figure with his bursting runs on the right, using his physicality and pace to trouble the fullbacks. He is also a major threat from set-piece situations, as he proved with a smart goal against the Black Panthers. If Singh can get some freedom to manoeuvre in the final third and get at the end of chances properly, he can help his side run riot against the Shers.

Ezequiel Vidal (Punjab FC)

Ezequiel Vidal has been one of the most impressive players from Punjab FC this season, bringing a lot of flair and style to their attacking patterns. The 29-year-old has already scored five goals and provided two assists in 16 appearances this season, with his excellent finishing ability resulting in some beautiful gaols. Vidal needs to tap into his best for Punjab FC to get their first-ever win over Mohun Bagan.

The Argentine midfielder has to be more proactive with his off-the-ball movement and make the forward passes more clinically. Vidal needs to work hard to get at the end of goal-scoring chances more often and convert his opportunities more clinically to give his side an edge against the league leaders.

Did you know?

• Mohun Bagan are still unbeaten in home matches in the 2024-25 ISL, having won eight of their nine matches so far.
• Nikhil Prabhu has made the most interceptions (48) for any player in the ISL so far this season, eight more than second-place Subhasish Bose.
• Tom Aldred has made the second-highest passes for any foreign player in the ongoing ISL with 783 successful passes.

Telecast Details

The match between Mohun Bagan and Punjab FC will take place at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata on 5 February. It will kick off at 7:30 PM IST.

The match will be shown live on Sports 18 and will be available for live streaming on Jio Cinema. International viewers can catch the action on the OneFootball app.

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