The third fixture of Matchday 17 of the 2023-24 Indian Super League season will see second-placed Mumbai City host fifth-placed Goa at the Mumbai Football Arena from 7:30 PM IST on Wednesday.
The Gaurs’ head coach Manolo Marquez Roca would be hoping to end his side’s three-match losing streak while the home side is on a three-match winning streak and would go top of the league standings for a minimum of 24 hours if the Islanders get a favorable result.
Current Form
Mumbai City is currently in the second position in the league standings with 31 points from 15 matches courtesy of 9 wins, 4 draws, and a couple of losses. After topping the group stage in the 2024 Super Cup, the Islanders were knocked out by hosts Odisha in the semi-final.
Head coach Petr Kratky took over from Des Buckingham in the midst of the league season and has turned around the fortunes of the club after the mid-season break. After a shocking 3-2 defeat to Khalid Jamil’s Jamshedpur, the Mumbai-based club has won three consecutive matches against East Bengal, Bengaluru, and Chennaiyin.
Goa went on a 12-match unbeaten streak in the ongoing ISL season, winning 8 and drawing 4 of those matches but have suffered a blip of late losing consecutive matches to Mohun Bagan Super Giant, NorthEast United, and Kerala Blasters.
Marquez’s men have 28 points from 15 matches and are currently in the fifth position with the dream of winning the ISL League Winners’ Shield fading out match by match. Since the resumption of the league season after the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, the Gaurs have faltered bagging only 4 points in 5 matches with the solitary win coming against 12th-placed Hyderabad.
Head to Head Record
Historically, Mumbai City has had the upper hand in this fixture across all competitions, having defeated Goa 10 times so far. On the other hand, the Margao-based club has won 7 out of the 23 matches with 6 matches ending as a draw.
While the Islanders have scored 34 goals in the history of this fixture, Goa has outscored them with 42 goals bagging big wins in the Sergio Lobera era.
The reverse fixture in the league saw Goa host Mumbai City at the Fatorda Stadium and the match ended goalless in Krtaky’s first match as the head coach of the Andheri-based club.
Team News
Jorge Pereyra Diaz could trouble the Goa defense which has been leaking goals recently
For the hosts, Jorge Pereyra Diaz will be available after serving his 4-match suspension and the striker might lead the line or appear as a substitute from the bench. Bipin Singh could be awarded a place in the starting XI after bailing his side out with a brace from the bench against Chennaiyin.
For Goa, there are no major suspensions or injury woes but head coach Marquez would certainly be looking at a few players to stand up and deliver in arguably the most important game of the season so far.
Predicted Starting XIs
Mumbai City (4-3-2-1): Phurba Lachenpa; Rahul Bheke, Thaer Krouma, Mehtab Singh, Akash Mishra; Apuia, Yoell van Nieff, Alberto Noguera; Bipin Singh, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Vikram Partap Singh; Jorge Pereyra Diaz
Goa (4-2-3-1): Arshdeep Singh; Seriton Fernandes, Odei Onaindia, Carl McHugh, Jay Gupta; Rowlin Borges, Ayush Chhetri; Boris Singh, Brandon Fernandes, Noah Sadaoui; Carlos Martinez
Prediction
The fans can expect another thriller on their plate as the West Coast Derby returns for its reverse leg in the 2023-24 ISL season.
Mumbai City would be aiming to extend their winning streak while the Gaurs would be hoping to snap out of their unwanted losing run in front of the Mumbai crowd.