Punjab FC vs Mohun Bagan Super Giant lineups, team news, prediction and preview

The Shers will be searching for a win against the league-leading Mariners.

Indian Super League (ISL) club Punjab FC will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing 2-4 loss against East Bengal FC. They now face league leaders Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi on December 26.

The Shers will be looking to get back on track against a high-flying Mohun Bagan side after a shock loss in matchweek 13 despite having an early 2-0 lead. However, they will face a Mariners side, who themselves are looking to set things right after a shock 2-1 loss against FC Goa in their last outing.

The Stakes

Punjab FC

The Shers have shown signs of a concerning mid-season performance dip to the dismay of their fans and head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis. While the Greek head coach was a positive influence on the side, back-to-back losses have pushed them out of the coveted top-six spots. Currently holding the seventh spot, the Shers cannot afford another setback this season after their great start.

The last game witnessed the Shers slump to a tough 2-4 loss against a resilient East Bengal FC side. Dilmperis would have lamented the missed opportunities against the Torchbearers having let the lead slip after being in a dominant position. A big win over Mohun Bagan could help Punjab re-focus themselves as a legitimate contender this season. Dropping points for a third game in a row spells trouble for a side aiming for big things this season.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant

The Mariners experienced a rare defeat against an in-form FC Goa side, but continue to hold their position as league leaders in the points table. They have accumulated 26 points from 12 matches which includes eight wins, two draws and two losses.

In their last match, they faced a tough Manolo Marquez-led FC Goa team who beat them narrowly in a 2-1 game. Even though they were the stronger side in the build-up to the match, the Gaurs just looked a challenging proposition on the night. A big win over Punjab will mean the resumption of normal service for the Mariners who are aiming to win the ISL shield and title at the end of the season.

ALSO READ: ISL 2024-25: Top five Indian players from Matchweek 13

Team & Injury News

The Shers and the Mariners will have a fully-fit squad to field in matchweek 14.

Head-to-Head

Total Matches – 2

Punjab FC wins– 0

Mohun Bagan wins– 2

Draws– 0

Predicted Lineups

Punjab FC (4-3-3)

Muheet Shabir (GK); Leon Augustine, Nongmeikapam Suresh Meitei, Ivan Novoselec, TA Singh; Nikhil Prabhu, Filip Mrzlijak, Ricky Shabong; Ezequiel Vidal, Luka Majcen, Nihal Sudeesh

Mohun Bagan (4-2-3-1)

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

Players to Watch

Luka Majcen (Punjab FC)

The Slovenian centre-forward has been the answer for Punjab FC time and time again this season. Majcen has been the man for the big occasions. He will hope to be a huge impact player against Mohun Bagan. The 32-year-old was not at his supreme best against East Bengal FC which led to the Shers losing the game.

The Slovenian will be hoping to impact the result this time around, as the Shers search for their maiden win against Mohun Bagan. In eight league games this season, the Slovenian has scored five goals and assisted three goals. The Punjab FC captain will be again looking to lead by example in matchweek 14.

Dimitri Petratos (Mohun Bagan Super Giant)

The Australian striker was the lone bright spark for the Mariners against FC Goa. Despite having an impressive last season, Petratos has been slow off the blocks this season. But he remains one of the most potent attacking threats for his club and scored the only goal against Goa.

While he has already made his mark this year, the Mariners will be expecting him to step up against the Shers. His presence upfront is what Mohun Bagan need to create chances and increase their win probability against Punjab FC.

Did You Know?

• Punjab FC are winless in their last two meetings against Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the ISL.
• Mohun Bagan Super Giant have conceded the fewest goals (12) amongst all teams in the ISL.
• Punjab FC have lost only one game at home this season and have won 80% of their home games.

Telecast Details

The Punjab FC vs Mohun Bagan Super Giant clash will be taking place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi on Thursday (26 December). The game will kick off at 7:30 PM IST.

The match will be shown live on the Sports 18 network and will be live-streamed on Jio Cinema. International viewers can catch the action on the OneFootball app.

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