East Bengal are looking for back-to-back victories at home as they welcome aimless NorthEast United at the Salt Lake Stadium.
The Red and Golds defeated Kerala Blasters 1-0 to end their four-game winless run while the Highlanders suffered more misery by losing 2-0 to fellow strugglers Jamshedpur FC.
EBFC vs NEUFC Match Details
Date: Wednesday, 8 January 2023
Time: 19:30 (IST)
Venue: Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata
EBFC vs NEUFC Match Preview
While the 1-0 win against playoff contenders Kerala Blasters came when nothing is left to play for, it certainly encouraged East Bengal to go on and end the season on a high. Cleiton Silva was the man of the moment again by scoring his 10th of the season, the only positive spark the fans would argue for the Red and Golds throughout. The former Bengaluru FC men have scored in each of the five victories managed in 16 matches. The win did come at a cost with Mobashir Rahman dismissed at stoppage time after receiving a second yellow. East Bengal face NorthEast United next at home before battling Chennaiyin FC and Mumbai City FC in two tough away trips. They finish the season with a high-voltage derby against ATK Mohun Bagan. Stephen Constantine’s men’s aim will be not to concede any defeat in the last four games or collect as many points as possible. Positive momentum is required for the team’s preparation for the Super Cup competition in April and in the words of their manager, a top-six hunt for next season. More three points at home on Wednesday can kick start the process. East Bengal are unbeaten against the Highlanders in the last two meetings having lost the first three encounters between the sides in ISL.
The home side won the reverse fixture with a 3-1 score-line and something similar could happen again if Vincenzo Annese doesn’t find a way out of the shambolic form NorthEast United had endured. The Highlanders also were the second-last side last term and are now going one worse this season by tagging themselves as the basement club. The 2-0 loss to Jamshedpur FC, one place above them, was their 15th defeat of the campaign with 45 goals conceded. To cause more worries, this was their last home game of the season. Not that the stadium in Guwahati was a fortress of any kind with merely 200 people turning up on matchday but they still managed to get their overall four points of the season here. Including the only victory of the season against ATK Mohun Bagan back in December last year. The Highlanders will take on East Bengal and two playoff contenders in Odisha FC and Chennaiyin FC in the remaining matches. Having not won any points on the road, it looks an uphill task to register any more points on the board.
Recent Form
EBFC: WLLLL
NEUFC: LLLDL
EBFC vs NEUFC Team News
Midfielder Mobashir Rahman will be unavailable against NorthEast United for his second booking in the last match. Jordan O’Doherty will be re-introduced in the midfield as a case but Charalampos Kyriakou will drop out of defense to balance the overseas count. Lalchungnunga, who is available again after suspension, will come in his place in the back four. VP Suhair will also miss the clash due to the accumulation of yellow cards.
The Highlanders continue to be without full-back Provat Lakra due to a knee injury. There are no other injury or suspension crises in the squad.
EBFC vs NEUFC Predicted Lineups
EBFC: Kamaljit Singh; Mohammad Rakip, Sarthak Golui, Lalchungnunga, Jerry Lalrinzuala; Sumeet Passi, Alex Lima, Jordan O’Doherty, Naorem Mahesh; Jake Jervis, Cleiton Silva,
NEUFC: Arindam Bhattacharya; Alex Saji, Mashoor Thangalakath, Aaron Evans, Tondonba Singh; Emil Benny, Imran Khan, Joseba Beitia; Parthib Gogoi, Kule Mbombo, Romain Philippoteaux
EBFC vs NEUFC Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Kamaljit (8)
DEF: Golui (7), Evans (7.5), Jerry (7.5)
MID: Benny (7), Lima (8.5), Beitia (7), Mahesh (9)
FW: Jervis (8), C Silva (9), Parthib (8.5)
Vice-captain: Naorem Mahesh
Captain: Cleiton Silva
Stay tuned to Fantasy Football for upcoming matches.
