Goa vs NorthEast United: Preview and Prediction
Two teams who are placed in the bottom three of the league standings, Goa and NorthEast United will clash in ‘Match 60’ of the 2021-22 season of the Indian Super League at the Athletic Stadium on Friday.
Last season’s semi-finals Goa has struggled to replicate their form this time around, winning only three of their ten matches. Derrick Pereira’s team is placed in the ninth position with 12 points in their account.
NorthEast United’s story is remarkably similar, as they too have lost their sheen and spark after making it to the semi-finals last season. Khalid Jamil’s men are laboring at the tenth position, having accumulated only eight points from their ten outings.
Current Form
Though their position in the standings will depict a different story, Goa has done a decent job in their last couple of matches. The Gaurs are coming into this match on the back of a 1-0 defeat against Chennaiyin.
The match before that against Kerala Blasters might have produced a 2-2 draw, but it certainly would have felt like a victory in the Goa camp as they bounced back after conceding two early goals. It was also an important fightback since Pereira’s team had lost their previous outing against ATK Mohun Bagan.
On the other hand, NorthEast United has picked up only a solitary point from their previous three fixtures. The Highlanders were handed a 3-2 defeat by Jamshedpur in their previous encounter.
Before that match, they played out a 3-3 thriller against Mumbai City, where Deshorn Brown’s two second-half goals rescued a point for Jamil’s team and prevented what could have been the seventh defeat, a week after they lost 3-2 against ATK Mohun Bagan.
Head to Head Record
Goa holds the upper hand when it comes to head-to-head records, as they have beaten NorthEast United on five occasions. The Highlanders have had the last laugh thrice, while as many as seven matches have ended in stalemates.
Jamil’s men emerged victorious in the first meeting of this season by a 2-1 margin where Roccharzela and Khassa Camara were on the scoresheet for them while Goa’s lone goal was scored by Alexander Romario Jesuraj.
Team News
Devendra Murgaonkar could make a comeback in Goa’s starting XI
Pereira opted for a 3-4-3 formation in the last match against Chennaiyin and it worked out well for the National Football League-winning manager. Accordingly, he is expected to stick to this formation, with perhaps only a single tweak.
Muhammad Nemil could hardly make an impact in the last match and was substituted at half-time. He might have to make way for Devendra Murgaonkar in this match.
Though NorthEast United has bolstered their foreign contingent by acquiring the services of Marcelinho and Marco Sahanek, they are unlikely to be available for this game owing to quarantine protocols, meaning Jamil could be left with four overseas options once again.
The former Aizawl head coach could switch back to a 4-3-3 set-up and bring Hernan Santana back in defense, with Mashoor Shereef being deployed in the middle of the park. Besides that, Pragyan Gogoi could be replaced by Sehnaj Singh.
Predicted Starting Lineups
Goa (3-4-3): Naveen Kumar; Anwar Ali, Ivan Gonzalez, Aiban Dohling; Seriton Fernandes, Glan Martins, Edu Bedia, Saviour Gama; Devendra Murgaonkar, Jorge Ortiz, Alberto Noguera.
NorthEast United (4-3-3): Mirshad Michu; Provat Lakra, Hernan Santana, Patrick Flottmann, Tondonba Singh; Sehnaj Singh, Mashoor Shereef, Imran Khan; VP Suhair, Deshorn Brown, Mathias Coureur.
Prediction
Goa will be buoyant after their recent triumph against Chennaiyin, whilst the Highlanders are without a win in their last three matches. Hence, we have predicted a 3-1 win in favor of the Gaurs.