A high on confidence ATK Mohun Bagan travel to the GMC Bambolim Stadium to take on a fresh Odisha FC.
Blast from the past:
A game to forget it was for Odisha FC as a last minute winner by ATK Mohun Bagan saw them taste defeat.
Odisha FC:
The Bhubaneshwar based club have parted ways with Stuart Baxter post the match against Jamshedpur FC and former Arsenal goalkeeping coach Gerald Peyton has been names as the interim head coach for the rest of the season. Odisha come into this following a 0-1 defeat to Jamshedpur FC, a game where they created alot of chances but lacked the finishing touch everytime. The Juggernauts have just one clean sheet in 15 matches and also have lowest number of goalscorers (3) in Diego Maurício, Cole Alexander and Steven Taylor. Gerald Peyton will be hoping for a better performance from his team in his first game incharge and here’s what he had to say ahead of the big clash against the Mariners, “We had a few meetings and it’s been very, very positive for everybody connected. It brought us together. All the senior players and all the Indian players, we are getting together now. We are going to show in the last six games, a very positive attitude and a determination to win as many games as possible and take the club forward,” he added.
ATK Mohun Bagan:
The Mariners turned the table in their last outing against the Blasters. They were 2-0 down until Odisha FC’s loanee Marcelinho started a comeback for his new club and the Mariners went on to win that game 3-2 and stunned Kerala. ATK Mohun Bagan have conceded 4 goals in their last 2 outings and will be looking get their backline back track as they were in the first of the season. The Hero ISL debutants have done some fabulous work in the winter transfer window with the signings of Marcelinho and Rodrigues will surely power up their midfield. It’s going to be a must win match for the Mariners if they want to catch up with Mumbai City FC for the AFC Champions League spot.
“The competition in the Hero ISL means that there are no small teams. There are also special situations that when the team changes their head coach, there is always more motivation for the players. We have to play the match the same way we would have played against a strong team like Mumbai City,” Habas said ahead of their match.
Players to watch out for:
Diego Maurício (Odisha FC)
The target has scored the majority of goals for Odisha this season. The Brazilian has been a threat to any defense in the attacking third. His ability to dribble and fire long rangers has been a key for Odisha and he will be eyeing to add a something to his tally of 7 goals against ATK Mohun Bagan.
Marcelinho Leite Pereira (ATK Mohun Bagan)
The Brazilian playmaker scored on his debut for the Mariners and initiated a tremendous comeback. He wasn’t able to find the back of the net and even lacked game time at Odisha FC but seems to have his form at ATK Mohun Bagan and will have an instrumental role to play in the tie against his parent club.
Probable Starting XI:
Odisha FC: Arshdeep (GK), Bora, Tratt, Rakesh, Sajid, Cole, Vinit, Jerry, Nanda, Inman, Maurício.
ATK Mohun Bagan: Arindam (GK), Jhingan, Tiri, Pritam, McHugh, Pranay, Marcelinho, Prabir, SK Sahil, Krishna.