Punjab FC vs Mohammedan SC lineups, team news, prediction and preview

The Shers are vying for their fourth home win of the season against the Black Panthers.

The Indian Super League (ISL) club Punjab FC will be looking to build on their winning momentum when they welcome Mohammedan SC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi on Friday. Coming on the back of a dominant 3-0 win over Mumbai City FC, the Shers are real contenders for the top-six spots.

They remain in a good position and will be facing a Mohammedan side, who will be looking to end their 2-game losing streak. With just five points in nine games this season, the club are languishing at the 12th spot in the ISL league standings.

Both teams will be motivated to outfox each other as they look to make strides toward securing a playoff spot this season.

The Stakes

Punjab FC

The Shers will be very happy with the last match result as they won comprehensively by beating defending champions Mumbai City FC with a scoreline of 3-0. Goals from Ezequiel Vidal, Luka Majcen, and Mushaga Bakenga sealed three important points in matchweek 10. While scoring goals was a struggle early in the season for the Shers, they have found the back of the net in their last four outings.

Scoring against the Islanders away from home was seen as a huge challenge, however Punjab made it look easy. Against Mohammedan, coach Panagiotis Dilmperis will hope for a repeat performance or even for a better result.

They will be facing a recently promoted Mohammedan side, who have struggled to cope with the demands of Indian football’s top division. A win would be a huge boost in their aspirations to finish the regular season within the ISL playoff spots.

Mohammedan SC

The newly promoted side in the Indian Super League find themselves struggling in the second-bottom position. Sitting just a point above their Kolkata rivals, East Bengal FC, coach Andrey Chernyshov’s side will be desperate for a positive result.

With only one win two draws and six losses from nine matches, their campaign has not gone to the Russian’s plans. The Black Panthers have shown moments of resilience and determination despite dwindling playoff aspirations at this stage of the season.

Their most recent encounter against Jamshedpur FC, where they lost 3-1, doesn’t accurately reflect their performance. Despite getting a stoppage-time penalty, Mohammedan SC were not able to bury their chances courtesy of Albino Gomes and his brilliant performance for Jamshedpur.

In a campaign, where every loss can be soul-crushing for the players, coach Chernyshov will be motivating his team to turn things around against Punjab. While a win looks improbable against a talented Punjab side, the unpredictability of the game of football is what enthralls ISL fans.

Injury and Team News:

Melroy Assisi is injured for Punjab FC for the match. Mohammedan SC have ruled out midfielder Mohammed Kadiri for the remainder of this season with a collateral ligament tear.

Head-to-head  

Total Matches Played: 6

Punjab FC wins: 3

Mohammedan SC wins: 0

Draws: 3

Predicted Lineups

Punjab FC (4-2-3-1)

Ravi Kumar (GK); Abhishek Singh, Suresh Meitei, Ivan Novoselec, Leon Augustine; Vinit Rai, Filip Mrzljak, Nikhil Prabhu; Nihal Sudeesh, Luka Majcen, Ezequiel Vidal

Mohammedan SC (4-4-1-1)

Bhaskar Roy (GK); Vanlalzuidika Chhakchhuak, Gaurav Bora, Florent Ogier, Zodingliana Ralte; Lalremsanga Fanai, Amarjit Kiyam, Mirjalol Kasimov, Makan Chothe; Alexis Gomez; Carlos Franca

Players to Watch

Luka Majcen (Punjab FC)

Coming back from a career-threatening broken jaw injury, Luka has shown leadership as the team captain. He has stepped up for the Shers when it mattered the most this season. He delivered another man-of-the-match performance in his last game against a formidable Mumbai City FC team.

Setting up a goal for Ezequiel Vidal in the 45th minute, Majcen gave Punjab an invaluable lead into the half-time interval. He proved himself to be a handful against Mumbai City and got his due reward when he increased the team’s advantage in the 53rd minute from the penalty spot.

Having made five appearances for the Shers this season, he has contributed with four goals and two assists this season. He will once again be the player to watch out for against Mohammedan SC.

Bhaskar Roy (Mohammedan SC)

Bhaskar Roy has been the one player who has emerged as an important player for Mohammedan SC and coach Chernyshov this season. The dependable 31-year-old goalkeeper from Kolkata had a rare off night against Jamshedpur, where he conceded 3 goals. Roy has consistently showcased resilience and determination, striving to secure clean sheets for his team.

His spirited performance in recent match weeks will be an example for his teammates to step up against Punjab. While the team is expected to face a lot of pressure from the Shers in Delhi, Roy will be a vital player for the Black Panthers if they are hoping to record a positive result.

Did You Know?

• When Punjab FC leads 1-0 at home, they win 100% of their matches.
• When Mohammedan SC leads 0-1 away, they win 100% of their matches.
• Mohammedan haven’t won once in their last 6 matches.
• The average number of goals in meetings between Punjab FC and Mohammedan SC is 3.8

Telecast

The game between Punjab FC and Mohammedan SC kicks off at 07:30 PM IST at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi on December 6th, 2024.

Live telecast of the fixture will be available on 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.

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