East Bengal are desperate to change their disappointing run of form as they welcome winless FC Goa in their first home game of the season.
EBG vs GOA Match Details
Date: Friday, 27 September 2024
Time: 19:30 (IST)
Venue: Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata
EBG vs GOA Match Preview
East Bengal wished for a positive start to the ISL 2024-25 season after bringing major changes to the squad this summer. With last season’s Golden Boot winners Dimitrios Diamantakos, top assist-maker Madih Talal and national team stars Jeakson Singh and Anwar Ali joining among others, the team that won a first major trophy after 12 long years in the form of Kalinga Cup under Carles Cuadrat expected to fire all cylinders in the new season. However, a quarterfinal exit from the Durand Cup with a surprise loss to I-League side Shillong Lajong and failure to enter into the AFC Champions League 2 coupled with back-to-back losses in the first two league games of the new season has put a question mark on the coach. After a narrow 1-0 defeat to Bengaluru FC in the opener, the Kolkata giants lost 2-1 to the other side Kerala Blasters despite taking the lead in the match in the second half through PV Vishnu. The team is under pressure to deliver in the first home game of the season against FC Goa having lost five out of eight meetings against them and picking just one win.
Like East Bengal, FC Goa are also searching for their first win of the season after losing late to Jamshedpur FC despite going in front on the stroke of half-time at Fatorda in the league opener before finding a stoppage-time equaliser to save humiliation against Mohammedan SC at Naihati. Armando Sadiku scored the goals in both matches finding his scoring touch since switching from Mohun Bagan Super Giant this summer. The joint-active goal-scorer for Albania played a key role in Goa’s Merdeka Cup success before the season and will wish his side to pick up their first win returning to his former home. The Gaurs will face East Bengal making consecutive trips to Kolkata to wrap up the month before two massive games against Durand Cup winners NorthEast United and ISL Cup holders Mumbai City FC. Manolo Marquez’s side will urge his team to think of nothing other than a win to stay in touch with the top four and resist the Red and Gold from opening their account this season in this match.
Recent Form (all competitions)
EBG: WLLLL
GOA: WWDLD
Recent Form (ISL)
EBG: WWLLL
GOA: WWLLD
EBG vs GOA Team News
The hosts will miss top names for this clash with star striker Diamantakos out injured while Saul Crespo has illness. Nishu Kumar and Provat Lakra are also out with injuries. While Lalchungnunga is available again from suspension, the centre-back partnership of Hector Yuste and Anwar Ali will remain unchanged. Whereas, the visitors are without Sandesh Jhingan and Iker Guarrotxena for the trip to Salt Lake.
EBG vs GOA Predicted Lineups
East Bengal
Prabhsukhan Gill; Mohammad Rakip, Anwar Ali, Hector Yuste, Mark Zothanpuia; Souvick Chakraborty, Jeakson Singh, Madih Talal; PV Vishnu, Cleiton Silva, Mahesh Singh
FC Goa
Laxmikant Kattimani; Aakash Sangwan, Odei Onaindia, Nim Dorjee, Jay Gupta; Rowllin Borges, Carl McHugh; Boris Singh, Borja Herrera, Brison Fernandes; Armando Sadiku
EBG vs GOA Head-to-head (ISL)
Played - 8
EBG won - 1
Drawn - 2
GOA won - 5
EBG vs GOA Dream11 Top picks
Captain Pick: Armando Sadiku
Vice-captain Picks: Cleiton Silva, Borja Herrera
EBG vs GOA Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Kattimani (Cr - 7.5)
DEF: Rakip (Cr - 8), Onaindia (Cr - 8), Gupta (Cr - 8)
MID: Herrera (Cr - 8.5), McHugh (Cr - 8.5), Borges (Cr - 8), Talal (Cr - 8.5)
FW: Silva (Cr - 8), Sadiku (Cr - 9), Mahesh (Cr - 7.5)
Vice-captain: Cleiton Silva
Captain: Armando Sadiku
East Bengal vs FC Goa Match Prediction
Two struggling outfits meet at Salt Lake Stadium hoping for a win. East Bengal’s home advantage could play a factor but missing key stars will disrupt their strategy. Goa could not prevent conceding goals either and is not creating enough chances on the other side. So, a draw might be the best result from the match. We predict a 1-1.
