A week after their dominant 5-1 win over Punjab FC, Chennaiyin FC will welcome FC Goa to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.
After a poor start to their season, the Marina Machans have found momentum at the right time, winning back-to-back matches and moving up to seventh in the table. Another win would move them into the play-off positions when the third international break arrives.
Owen Coyle’s men have had their fair share of problems, both in attack and defence, and although they have only won against the two bottom-placed clubs, they appear sharper and more competitive.
Addressing the media ahead of the match, Coyle emphasized the importance of maintaining their level of performance to secure a positive result against FC Goa.
“FC Goa are a very good team, we respect them, but we know that with the quality of players we have, we have very good quality. We have the desire to be really focused and try to face another difficult win the match.” the ISL and FC Goa too, so I think it will be an exciting match tomorrow,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Manolo Marquez’s FC Goa have had a strong start to their season despite not being at their breathtaking best. They currently sit fourth in the table with 10 points and remain one of three undefeated teams.
In their previous match against Bengaluru FC, FC Goa missed key players Noah Sadaoui and Brandon Fernandes, resulting in a less potent attack and a 0-0 draw despite having the upper hand in chances.
However, Marquez will be hoping their defense improves as they have been vulnerable on counter-attacks, a facet of the game that Chennaiyin FC are strong at.
During the pre-match press conference, the Spanish coach praised his counterpart, stating that his team must be competitive both physically and technically to get a result in Chennai.
“He (Owen Coyle) demands a lot from the players. And finally, his character is the character of the team. And this is the reason that Chennaiyin FC will now, I think, be a very competitive team. And we have to be .” “I’m very focused. But again, we have our options to win the match if we play a good match,” Marquez said.
Chennaiyin FC vs FC Goa: Team news and predicted line-up
Chennaiyin FC Injuries and Suspensions: Ninthoi Meetei (injury).
FC Goa injuries and suspension: Noah Sadaoui and Brandon Fernandes (doubtful).
Chennaiyin FC predicted line-up: Debjit Majumder (GK), Ankit Mukherjee, Lazar Cirkovic, Ryan Edwards, Aakash Sangwan, Jiteshwor Singh, Ayush Adhikari, Rafael Crivellaro, Farukh Chaudhary, Rahim Ali, Connor Shields.
FC Goa predicted line-up: Arshdeep Singh (GK), Seriton Fernandes, Odei Onaindia, Sandesh Jhingan, Jay Gupta, Rowllin Borges, Carl McHugh, Udanta Singh, Victor Rodriguez, Raynier Fernandes, Carlos Martinez.
Chennaiyin FC vs FC Goa: Prediction
Both teams come into this one with strong momentum, increasing anticipation for this highly anticipated clash. Throughout its history, this match has consistently been characterized by its intensity, with both teams being formidable and equally competitive opponents. That is why expectations are high that this fixture will retain its bright character.
FC Goa will look to assert themselves as contenders against the likes of Mumbai City FC and Mohun Bagan SG, while Chennaiyin FC will look to secure their third straight win to consolidate their position in the top six.
Nevertheless, the outcome of this match will likely depend on the performance of the defending units as both teams have proven vulnerable at the back.
Prediction: Chennaiyin FC 1-1 FC Goa.