Preview: Hyderabad look to end winless run against FC Goa, secure playoffs spot

The win can guarantee Nizams' a play-off spot.

With the chasing pack snapping at their heels, Hyderabad FC will look to leave no stone unturned in their bid to consolidate their place at the top of the heap when they take on FC Goa in the Indian Super League at the Athletic Stadium in Bambolim on Saturday.

Hyderabad are on 29 points from 16 games but have ATK Mohun Bagan breathing down their neck having the same number of points but with a game in hand. The Mariners take on Kerala Blasters earlier in the day but Manolo Marquez would want his wards to decide their own fate with a win on Saturday which would all but secure their place in the semifinals.

The Stakes 

Hyderabad FC

Hyderabad are currently in the midst of their best-ever season. In their last match, they equaled their record points total in a single season of 29 points, in just 16 matches. They have also won eight matches this season, the most they have managed in a single season.

Bartholomew Ogbeche has been in the form of his life for Hyderabad, scoring 14 goals so far but for Marquez, the pleasing fact is that others have also contributed with goals and assists making the team click. Javier Siverio was handed a start in the last game and he rewarded his coach with a crucial goal as they won 2-1 against Bengaluru FC. Siverio now has six goal contributions with only Ogbeche involved in more goals for the club.

Joao Victor also scored in the previous encounter and now has four goals to his name, his best-ever return in a single season. 

"Every game is very difficult. Against FC Goa, it will be the same. Yes, their top-four hopes are all but gone but they will try to finish as high as possible in the table,"  Marquez said.

"FC Goa is one of the best teams in the league and they have had their challenges. We have to be at our best. There are six teams and four places and some teams have more games to play. So the table is not real and we are on top but after I don't know how many days. So the opponents are closer to us every time. We need to go step by step," he added.

FC Goa

FC Goa, meanwhile, are not mathematically out of the semis race but realistically the defeat to ATK Mohun Bagan the other night virtually ended all their hopes. Goa are in ninth spot with 18 points from 17 matches.

"It's really tough now. In fact, we have to just play for pride I feel. We have to go with the same intention to do well and get the best results. These are difficult times but we will look to give our best as always," said FC Goa head coach Derrick Pereira.

"We are in the process of building a team for the future. There are a lot of youngsters and they will get an opportunity to perform," he added. Glan Martins is suspended for the game against Hyderabad FC, Pereira confirmed. The last time the two sides met, it was a 1-1 stalemate.

Team News

Hyderabad FC

Halicharan Narzary continues to be unavailable due to a long-term injury. Khassa Camara could make his debut after signing for the club. Edu Garcia will not be available after departing the club due to personal reasons. Asish Rai's selection will depend on his RT PCR report.

FC Goa

Glan Martins is suspended with four bookings. Two positive cases this morning in the FC Goa camp. Some players played with injuries in the previous match as some players missed out due to covid cases.

Probable Starting XI

Hyderabad FC: Laxmikant Kattimani (GK); Nim Dorjee, Juanan, Chinglensana Singh, Akash Mishra; Nikhil Poojary, Joao Victor (C), Sauvik Chakrabarti, Aniket Jadhav; Bartholomew Ogbeche, Javier Siverio.

FC Goa: Dheeraj Singh (GK); Seriton Fernandes, Ivan Gonzalez, Dylan Fox, Anwar Ali; Princeton Rebello, Brandon Fernandes, Alexander Romario Jesuraj, Alberto Noguera, Saviour Gama; Jorge Ortiz.

Did you know?

• Hyderabad are winless in their last 5 matches against FC Goa. FC Goa have won 3 and drawn 2 of the 5 encounters between the two sides.
• FC Goa have conceded the second most goals from set pieces this season (13).
• Hyderabad need a point more to break the club record of most points in an ISL season.
• A defeat for FC Goa in the upcoming match will see them equal their record of most defeats in the league stages of the ISL. They suffered 8 defeats in the league stages of ISL 2016.

Telecast

The match between Hyderabad FC and FC Goa will be played at the GMC Athletic Stadium in Bambolim, Goa from 9:30 pm. The game will be telecasted live on the Star Sports Network. It will also be live-streamed on Disney+Hotstar and JioTV.

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