NorthEast United FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant are set to square off at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 on Sunday.
The Highlanders will aim to leverage their recent home form to get back to winning ways, while the Mariners will look to extend their dominant record in this fixture and maintain their stronghold in the top half of the table.
NorthEast United has been formidable at home recently, winning four of its last six games (W4 D1 L1). Its recent outings at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium saw it overcome Jamshedpur FC 5-0 and edge past Odisha FC 3-2. Scoring eight goals in its last two home matches, the Highlanders will hope to continue its fine attacking form.
The Highlanders have been lethal in open play, scoring a league-high 18 goals from open play this season. Forward Alaaeddine Ajaraie has been a key figure in attack, registering four games this season where he attempted five or more shots — the most by any player. He will look to lead the charge once again and will aim to add to his 11 goals this season.
Mohun Bagan head coach Jose Molina said that he doesn’t make plans for individual players of the opposition and is instead focusing on them as a collective.
“We are playing a team against whom we will have to be competitive. Sure, they have some key players who can impact the game more than others, but when we make plans, we make plans for the whole team. We make plans to win the game,” Molina said.
The Mariners have been ticking all the boxes in recent games. They have scored at least three goals in each of their last three ISL games against NorthEast United FC, matching their record of scoring three-plys goals in consecutive games against a single opponent (Jamshedpur FC and East Bengal FC). Liston Colaco has been Highlanders’ nemesis, scoring eight goals against them — the third-highest tally for any Indian player against a single ISL opponent.
Mohun Bagan is among the league’s most intense pressers, allowing their opponents only 10.9 passes per defensive action (PPDA) — the second-best in the ISL, just behind Kerala Blasters. This pressing intensity could disrupt the Highlanders’ build-up play, which will be essential to stop the latter’s offensive contingent in their tracks.
NorthEast United head coach Juan Pedro Benali heaped praise on the strengths of the Mariners and expressed that his side is well acquainted with the same.
“We know Mohun Bagan Super Giant very well. We even played them in the Durand Cup final. They are a very good team, with a strong defence and always ready to counter-attack,” Benali said.
The game will be momentous for Mohun Bagan Super Giant star Subhasish Bose, who is on the verge of becoming the first player to make 100 ISL appearances for the Mariners.
Content Source: sportstar.thehindu.com