Panaji (Goa) [India], November 5 (ANI): The two in-form teams FC Goa (FCG) and Punjab FC (PFC), lock horns in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Fatorda Stadium on Wednesday.
There are few stronger factors than a confident collective team in football and both these sides seem to possess that after their recent results. FC Goa will come into this match with renewed confidence after snapping a four-game winless home run with a commanding 3-0 victory over Bengaluru FC. Meanwhile, Punjab FC are in exceptional form, having won five of their last six matches.
Punjab FC are third in the table after 12 points from five games this season – thanks to four victories already, an incredibly positive feat for a team only in their second season in the competition. For the Gaurs, the outcome against the Blues held massive significance, since their campaign required a stimulant boost and they got that courtesy of sweeping aside a team that had barely put a foot wrong in the competition until then.
Punjab FC have won five of their last six Indian Super League games (P6 W5 L1), with the sole loss in this period coming against Bengaluru FC on October 18; indeed, it was the only game in which the Shers failed to find the back of the net in this period.
The Gaurs (FCG) have scored 12 goals from inside the 18-yard box in ISL 2024-25, the most such strikes by any team in this term. Armando Sadiku (6) and Borja Herrera (4) have joined hands to hammer 10 of them, showing relentless efficiency from close distances. Punjab FC will have to be wary of letting the Gaurs’ frontline get too close to their defensive unit, since their cohesion and interlinking in close spaces could cause the visitors troubles at the back.
One of the key reasons behind FC Goa’s assuring yet dominant performance over Bengaluru FC was that they didn’t let the Gerard Zaragoza-coached side settle into the proceedings. The Gaurs forced 16 high turnovers (winning the ball back within 40 metres of the opposition’s goal) – the most by any team in an ISL game this season. Punjab FC will have to slick and swift in their passing sequences to ensure FC Goa do not win possession and embark on offensive endeavours from dangerous positions.
FC Goa will come into this match with renewed confidence after snapping a four-game winless home run (D1 L3) with a commanding 3-0 victory over Bengaluru FC. Notably, that was their only clean sheet in this home spell. The Gaurs have been a force inside the box, scoring 12 goals from close range, with Armando Sadiku and Borja Herrera combining for 10 of these.
Punjab FC have been on a terrific run off late, winning five out of their previous six encounters. Their only loss in this period came against Bengaluru FC last month – and it was the only game in this period when the team had failed to find the back of the net. Their dynamic frontline has been central to their success off late and they need to produce a well-coordinated performance on the road to get the desired result in the coming clash too.
Punjab FC have worked as a unit to create formidable goal-scoring opportunities this season. They have made three big chances per game – the highest by any team in the league. Eight of their nine goals in the current campaign have come from the aforementioned chances, demonstrating a seamless link-up between their attacking midfield and forwards.
FC Goa have had the upper hand against Punjab FC in the ISL, remaining unbeaten in their two previous encounters. The two teams have faced each other twice in the league. FC Goa have won once, whereas the other game resulted in a draw.
FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez shared insights about how he deals with unfavourable results, saying that he prefers staying positive regardless of the game’s outcome.
“In my experience as a coach, you cannot be too negative or pessimistic if the team doesn’t do well. Obviously you can be angry, but I don’t see much difference between the top teams and the teams below (in the table),” Marquez said, as quoted by a press release from ISL.
Punjab FC head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis expressed that he isn’t overly concerned with adapting to FC Goa’s gameplay, and insisted that his team will instead compel the home side to mould their playing style in the coming match.
“We will not adapt to them (FC Goa’s playing style). We will press them to adapt to us. We don’t care how they play against other teams. We only care how other teams play against us,” Dilmperis said, as quoted by a press release from ISL.
Both Punjab FC and FC Goa will be relying on their bankable marksmen, i.e. Luka Majcen and Armando Sadiku, who have averaged a goal every 30.3 and 71 minutes respectively in the ISL 2024-25. Their ability to convert chances into goals consistently helps their team get an edge in contests. Sadiku has scored in six consecutive ISL games – with only Kalu Uche (8) and Alaaeddine Ajaraie (7) scoring in more games on the trot in the competition’s history.
Aakash Sangwan has helped add a unique layer to FC Goa’s attacking gameplay this season – making 40 crosses, the highest by any player in the league. Both of his assists have come through crosses and Sangwan’s tendency to stretch the opposition’s defence and deliver lateral balls inside the 18-yard box make him a key offensive outlet for the home side.
Punjab FC’s Ezequiel Vidal has created 13 chances in the ISL this season, the most by any player without an assist, and he will be eager to set that record straight by setting up a strike in this match. Vidal has accumulated an expected assists tally of 1.51, again the highest of any player without an assist so far in the present term of the competition. (ANI)
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