Three things FC Goa need to fix before Super Cup 2025 semi-finals

The AIFF Super Cup 2025-26 semi-final clashes will take place in Goa.

FC Goa look to bounce back from their recent setback in the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Two group games when they face off against Mumbai City FC in the semi-finals of the AIFF Super Cup 2025. After having finished on top of their group, the Gaurs have been able to get into the semi-finals, and they’re determined to win the tournament for the second straight year.

However, FC Goa are coming into this game on the back of a string of defeats. In fact, there are some aspects of their structure and shape that Manolo Marquez needs to strengthen for his side to go all the way and win the Super Cup title.

This includes making some changes and fine-tuning their team selection to put up a strong performance to beat Mumbai City in the semi-finals. Here are three things the Gaurs need to fix before the 2025 Super Cup semi-finals.

3. Strengthen shaky set-piece defending

FC Goa might have put in a pretty decent defensive showing in their recent 2-1 loss to Al-Zawraa in the AFC Champions League Two, but their set-piece defending woes were there for everyone to see. The first goal that the Gaurs conceded was because of really poor defending from a corner, and even the second was after a corner wasn’t properly cleared away.

FC Goa have shown signs of weakness when defending against difficult corners or free-kicks, mostly because their shape is not the strongest in such situations.

Given that Mumbai City have dangerous set-piece takers or corner scorers like Lallianzuala Chhangte, FC Goa need to be more secure in their set-piece defence.

Marquez will have to train his players rigorously so that they can identify the right way to neutralise the opposition’s threat from set pieces. He needs his players to be sharp and proactive in reacting to those situations, making crucial clearances, and being calm under pressure to get a win over Mumbai City.

2. Solve the centre-forward dilemma

FC Goa have been struggling to score goals in recent matches. They have only two goals in the five AFC Champions League Two games so far. One of the main reasons for their struggles in continental competition is probably their unconvincing final third work.

That is because they seem to be lacking a ruthless, out-and-out striker who can be a match-winner for them. Javier Siverio hasn’t been as clinical as some of FC Goa’s memorable past strikers, such as Ferran Corominas and Igor Angulo.

Now it is up to Manolo Marquez to solve FC Goa’s persistent problem of scoring goals from their centre-forwards.

Be it player Iker Guarrotxena in the false no. 9 position or trying to get more delivery into the box for Siverio itself, they need to feed their centre-forward more regularly to really take the fight to the Islanders and move into the Super Cup finale once again.

1. The annoying creativity problem

What Manolo Marquez must work on is the creativity issues that are currently plaguing his FC Goa team. Gaurs were particularly toothless in creating chances in the recent defeat to Al-Zawraa, failing to create prominent chances despite being able to move the ball into the danger zones.

Unfortunately for Goa, they seem to choke in the vital positions in the final third, with players struggling to make necessary passes into the box to set up chances. Marquez will need to change his style of play to get his team out of this problem, and his players will need to be more bold and innovative in their final third work.

He probably needs to encourage his wing-backs to make more overlapping runs through the wide areas and try to create chances, so that the wingers can move centrally into more goal-scoring situations.

Unless Marquez can get his players to be clever with the final delivery against Mumbai City, they’ll be frustrated by the Islanders’ backline and face a tough task in trying to get a win.

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