Leaders Mohun Bagan hope to extend their two-point lead by ending the year on a winning note as they travel to Delhi to face Punjab FC.
PUN vs MBG Match Details
Date: Thursday, 26 December 2024
Time: 19:30 (IST)
Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi
PUN vs MBG Match Preview
Despite an emphatic first half with Asmir Suljic and Pulga Vidal giving a two-goal lead at Saltlake Stadium, Punjab FC crumbled in the second period against East Bengal. The Kolkata giants made a stunning comeback to win the game 4-2 with the visitors also losing their reliable right back Khaiminthang Lhungdim past the hour mark for a second booking. Having also lost to Jamshedpur FC after back-to-back sensational wins over Mumbai City and Mohammedan SC, the Shers found themselves out of the top six despite having the same points as fifth-placed Northeast United. The two-time I-league winners have lost four of their last six games giving concerns to their manager Panagiotis Dilmperis. Punjab FC also had a challenging end to the year with leaders Mohun Bagan visiting them in Delhi having lost the previous five fixtures. However, the home form has been encouraging with just one loss in five games so far which will motivate them in this battle. The visitors are also going through an injury crisis which can be capitalised but Dilmperis’s men are again without star midfielder Filip Mirzlajik for the clash.
Mohun Bagan’s incredible eight-game winning run, of which seven were victories, came crashing down in the hands of FC Goa at the Fatorda Stadium last week. A brace from Brison Fernandes forced the defeat on the Mariners with Dimitri Petratos equaliser from the spot resulting in nothing. This was only the second loss of the season for the Shield holders after suffering a 3-0 crushing defeat to Bengaluru FC in September. Despite the result, Jose Molina’s men maintain a two-point lead at the top although the two defeats coming in away games will be a cause of concern as they travel to Delhi to face Punjab FC on boxing day. The team was struck by injuries with Petratos, who scored at the venue last time, missing the clash alongside the struggling Greg Stewart and Ashique Kuruniyan. Even captain Subhasish Bose could be a doubt with a face injury. Nevertheless, the Green and Maroons aim to conclude 2024 positively after winning their first ISL Shield this year.
Recent Form
PUN: LWWLL
MBG: DWWWL
PUN vs MBG Predicted Lineups
Punjab FC
Ravi Kumar; Leon Augustine, Suresh Meitei, Ivan Novoselec, Abhishek Singh; Vinit Rai, Nikhil Prabhu; Pulga Vidal, Asmir Suljic, Nihal Sudeesh; Luka Majcen
Mohun Bagan
Vishal Kaith; Asish Rai, Alberto Rodriguez, Tom Aldred, Subhasish Bose; Apuia, Anirudh Thapa; Manvir Singh, Sahal Samad, Liston Colaco; Jamie Maclaren
PUN vs MBG Head-to-head (all competitions)
Played - 12
PUN won - 1
Drawn - 3
MBG won - 8
PUN vs MBG Head-to-head (ISL)
Played - 2
GOA won - 0
Drawn - 0
MBG won - 2
PUN vs MBG Dream11 Team Top picks
Captain Pick: Pulga Vidal
Vice-captain Picks: Manvir Singh, Liston Colaco
PUN vs MBG Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Kaith (Cr - 8)
DEF: Asish (Cr - 8), Rodriguez (Cr - 8), Bose (Cr - 9), Abhishek (Pts - 8)
MID: Manvir (Cr - 8.5), Vidal (Cr - 8.5), Colaco (Cr - 8.5)
FW: Sujic (Cr - 7), Maclaren (Cr - 7), Majcen (Cr - 8.5)
Vice-captain: Manvir Singh
Captain: Pulga Vidal
