NorthEast United are searching for their first away victory in ISL this season as they travel to Kolkata to face stuttering East Bengal.
EBFC vs NEUFC Match Details
Date: Monday, 4 December 2023
Time: 20:00 (IST)
Venue: Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata
EBFC vs NEUFC Match Details
Despite taking the lead for the third time this season, East Bengal failed to secure a win after a 1-1 draw against Chennaiyin FC. Ayush Adhikari put youngster Vishnu’s low cross into his own net for the opener but the away side paid the brunt of their own mistake as substitute Ninthoi Meetei scored the equalizer in the 86th minute. The Red and Gold will be disappointed in not winning the game although could call themselves fortunate as well with the home side missing big chances to score. Carles Cuadrat’s men remain four points away from playoff places in ninth with one win from six matches so far. The side is looking at an underwhelming campaign again if they cannot change their form in the last month of the year. Playoff contender NorthEast United visiting the Salt Lake Stadium next, whom the Kolkata giants have defeated only once in the ISL, does not make it easier for them. However, East Bengal will look at the stunning comeback they made in this tie played at this venue in the Durand Cup semi-final tie between the pair. From two goals down in the second half to make it 2-2 gave an entertaining spectacle on the pitch with East Bengal progressing on penalties to the final. However, the game was overshadowed by incidents of violence and racism directed at the away support in the stands.
Things are less likely to heat up this time with two teams seeing the opposite side of form although recent results in the ISL will disagree with the fact. While NorthEast United have won just twice this season, they have suffered one less defeat compared to three for the home side. The Highlanders are also holding the last playoff qualification spot with a victory giving them the possibility of a top-four place. That said, Juan Pedro Benali’s team picked up just one win in the last five and collected just two points from three away matches played till now. In the last game too, despite playing at home, the Guwahati-based club came up with a draw after Aleksandar Jovanovic’s own goal in first-half stoppage time cancelled out Sunil Chhetri’s lead for Bengaluru FC from the spot. NorthEast United will now have to win games again and also prevent conceding goals. While they have not leaked many, their clean sheet count of the season is only one. The Highlanders will definitely not want a repeat of their last visit to Kolkata or a 3-3 draw in the last ISL meeting. So far, NorthEast have picked up three victories in six meetings with the home side winning only once. That head-to-head record could be motivating for the visitors to come up with something positive on Monday.
EBFC vs NEUFC Predicted Lineups
EBFC: Prabhsukhan Gill; Harmanjot Khabra, Lalchungnunga, Hijazi Maher, Mandar Rao Dessai; Nandha Kumar, Souvik Chakraborty, Saul Crespo, Ajay Chettri, Mahesh Singh; Cleiton Silva
NEUFC: Mirshad Michu; Soraishem Singh, Asheer Akhtar, Miguel Zabaco, Tondonba Singh; Romain Philippoteaux, Mohammed Bemammer, Konsam Phalguni; Parthib Gogoi, Nestor Albiach, Jithin M.S
EBFC vs NEUFC Head to Head
Played - 6
EBFC won - 1
Drawn - 2
NEUFC won - 3
EBFC vs NEUFC Dream11 Prediction
GK: Michu (8.5)
DEF: Dessai (8), Akhtar (9), Zabaco (8.5), T Singh (7.5)
MID: Nandha (8.5), Bemammer (8.5), K Singh (8.5),
FW: Mahesh (8.5), Parthib (9), C Silva (9)
Vice-captain: Cleiton Silva
Captain: Parthib Gogoi
Stay tuned to Fantasy Football for upcoming ISL matches.
