ATK Mohun Bagan Vs FC Goa Preview: Gaurs tussle for top four

The Mariners will move to joint-top position in the table if they snatch a victory.

Indian Super League (ISL) will play host to the first match between the two biggest ‘favourites’ to win the title when ATK Mohun Bagan host FC Goa at the Fatorda Stadium on Wednesday. The Mariners, for one, are desperate to get back to winning ways after being unable to do so in the last few games. The brakes are starting to fall off Antonio Habas’ side after a blistering start to the side. 

The Gaurs, meanwhile, seem to be getting only better with each passing game. When one of ISL's most prominent backlines meets one of the league’s most terrifying attacking forces, something has got to give and neither team will be happy with anything but a win.

The Stakes

With Mumbai City FC dropping points to Jamshedpur FC, ATKMB have the perfect opportunity to regain their place at the top of the table. Even if they are unable to get a big win, the Mariners can at least go joint-top at the league’s summit to keep themselves alive in the battle to finish first after the league stages.

Moreover, Antonio Habas' side are yet to really get going this season and prove themselves worthy of being called title favourites. They’re struggling to create definitive chances and are opting for a very cagey style of football. A compelling win over a side like FC Goa can, however, change all of that.

The Gaurs are themselves starting to get their groove going under Juan Ferrando and a win could catapult them closer to the top spot as well. A string of victories is crucial for Goa to challenge for a first-place finish again and their attacking might will be put under the hammer against ATKMB, who are yet to concede from open play.

With both their foreigners and domestic core looking to have formed a solid chemistry, FC Goa have the firepower to be the one that properly breaks down this ATK Mohun Bagan backline. If Ferrando’s side are to prove themselves worthy of being called as potential champions, they must continue playing entertaining football and completely outwit the Mariners on Wednesday.

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Team News

ATK Mohun Bagan will still be without star midfielder Javi Hernandez for the game. David Williams and Tiri should be fit after missing out against Odisha FC. Michael Soosairaj remains the only long-term absentee.

FC Goa don’t have any major injury issues and should go with the same team which picked up the win against Odisha FC, with that looking their strongest right now. 

ALSO READ: Indian Super League 2020-21: Five things we learned in Gameweek 5

Probable Lineups

ATK Mohun Bagan: Arindam, Prabir, Kotal, Tiri, Jhingan, Subhasish, McHugh, Rane, Garcia, Williams, Krishna

FC Goa: Nawaz, Seriton, Donachie, Gonzalez, Gama, Lenny, Noguera, Brandon, Jesuraj, Ortiz, Angulo

Head-to-Head 

https://youtu.be/MNX80plTJb8

This will be the first time when these two teams meet in the ISL. However, the erstwhile ATK faced FC Goa 14 times in the ISL, winning five times and losing thrice, with the remaining ones being stalemates.  

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Man to Watch

David Williams (ATK Mohun Bagan)

David Williams should be back into the ATK Mohun Bagan starting XI against FC Goa and he’ll be key towards adding an unpredictable factor to their attack. Without Hernandez, the Mariners lack that spark in midfield, but Williams has the capability of doubling up as a playmaker as well as a clinical centre-forward. 

His chemistry with Roy Krishna is well known and he’ll aim to give his partner-in-crime more free space to threaten in. Williams’ clever off-the-ball movement, tendency to drop back to destabilize defenders and ability to open up opportunities will be key in creating more chances for ATKMB. He’ll also add a added goal-scoring threat for his side and promise to keep teams guessing with his unique style in the final third.

Igor Angulo (FC Goa)

The 36-year-old has proven to be the perfect replacement for Ferran Corominas at FC Goa and absolutely tormented defenders in the ISL. But, Angulo faces the toughest challenge so far against arguably the strongest backline in the league. With the likes of Tiri or Pritam Kotal strongly marking him, Angulo will have to be at his sharpest to fool the defenders. With his clever, well-timed forward runs, impressive movement inside the box, he can cause all kinds of problems for ATKMB. Moreover, he’ll look to latch onto some chances in the final third and continue his incredible goal scoring streak in the ISL.

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Did You Know?

• Igor Angulo has scored 85% of FC Goa’s total goals in the ISL this season with six strikes.
• Roy Krishna and Manvir Singh are the only goal scorers for ATK Mohun Bagan this season.
• FC Goa have made the second-most passes in the ISL this season with 2549 passes in five games. 

Telecast

The match between ATK Mohun Bagan and FC Goa is set to be telecast live on Star Sports 1 SD & HD, Star Sports 2 SD & HD (English), Star Sports Hindi 1 SD & HD, Star Sports 3 and several other regional languages. Live streaming of the match will be available on Hotstar and Jio TV.

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