Mumbai City FC hopes to return to winning ways as they face the play-off-seeking East Bengal side at the Mumbai Football Arena. Both teams are coming off a 0-0 draw before playing each other.
Mumbai City FC vs East Bengal FC Match Details
Date: Saturday, 16 December 2023
Time: 20:00 (IST)
Venue: Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai
Mumbai City FC vs East Bengal FC Match Preview
Mumbai City took a minor setback after drawing 0-0 with table-toppers FC Goa at Fatorda in Petr Kraky’s first game in charge. It was the second draw for the Islanders in four away matches in the league. While the unbeaten streak remained intact for the Shield holders, the result opened up a five-point gap with the first place although with games in hand to cover. Mumbai will be frustrated of not providing much in attack with just a shot on target where they fired four past Bengaluru FC a game prior. It could be debated that Goa under Manolo Marquez was always going to be a tough nut to crack but the Islanders will want to see the first goal and victory under the new management. They welcome eighth-ranked East Bengal to Mumbai Football Arena against whom, incidentally, they last played a goalless draw in the league in 2022. Mumbai City lost this fixture last time with a second-string squad and having already secured the League Shield. So, revenge could be on the cards.
After a 5-0 victory over NorthEast United in the Salt Lake which looked to have kick-started East Bengal’s season properly, the 0-0 draw against Punjab FC in consecutive home games gave them a reality check. Carles Cuadrat’s side failed to open up a defensively robust opposition with lingering issues in the squad exposed again. The Red and Golds fans will argue about some controversial decisions going against them but cannot deny their team’s inconsistent run of form. East Bengal are still only three points away from the playoff spot but faces a crunching schedule before the league pauses due to the Asian Cup in January next year. After the trip to Mumbai, AFC Cup knockouts-bound Odisha FC will arrive in Kolkata for the final match making the result against Punjab FC feel like a defeat for the Torch Bearers. The Kolkata giants will have to stress on their solidity if they want to pick up a second consecutive win at Mumbai Football Arena which looks a tougher task this time.
Recent Form (ISL)
MCFC: DWWDW
EBFC: DWDLL
Mumbai City FC vs East Bengal FC Predicted Lineups
Mumbai City FC:
Phurba Lachenpa; Mehtab Singh, Rostyn Griffiths, Rahul Bheke; Vikram Pratap, Apuia, Van Nieff, Akash Mishra; Lallianzuala Chhangte, Greg Stewart; Jorge Diaz
East Bengal FC:
Prabhsukhan Gill; Mohammad Rakip, Lalchungnunga, Hijazi Maher, Mandar Rao Dessai; Borja Herrera, Saul Crespo, Souvik Chakraborty;Mahesh Singh, Cleiton Silva, Nandha Kumar
Mumbai City FC vs East Bengal FC Head to Head (all competitions)
Played - 7
MCFC won - 4
Drawn - 1
EBFC won - 2
Mumbai City FC vs East Bengal FC Head to Head (ISL)
Played - 6
MCFC won - 4
Drawn - 1
EBFC won - 1
Mumbai City FC vs East Bengal FC Dream11 Team Prediction
Without losing a match for the season and winning four of the six meetings with East Bengal FC, Mumbai City FC are favourites to win this clash.
Mumbai City FC vs East Bengal FC Dream11 Fantasy Suggestions
Vice-captain Picks: Greg Stewart, Cleiton Silva, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Nadha Kumar
Captain Pick: Jorge Diaz, Cleiton Silva
Others: Borja Herrera
Our top pick for the MCFC vs EBFC Dream11 team is this season’s top-scorer in the ISL Jorge Diaz with six goals. The next big choice could be Cleiton Silva with five goals and Greg Stewart with a goal and an assist in two of the last three ISL games for Mumbai City.
MCFC vs EBFC Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Gill (7.5)
DEF: Bheke (8), Griffiths (8.5), Mandar (8)
MID: Nadha (8.5), Borja (8.5), Crespo (9), Stewart (9)
FW: Chhangte (9), Diaz (9), Silva (9)
Stay tuned to Fantasy Football for upcoming ISL matches.
