We’re now at the Round 18 of the 2020-21 ISL Season. ATK Mohun Bagan will be out looking for their fourth win on the bounce in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2020-21 when they face Bengaluru FC on Tuesday.
The tussle between ATK Mohun Bagan’s star striker Roy Krishna and Bengaluru FC talisman Sunil Chhetri will add an extra zing to the contest. ATK Mohun Bagan’s new signing Marcelinho will also be in the mix.
Another key clash of round 18 will be leaders Mumbai City FC vs third-placed FC Goa. Sergio Lobera, Mumbai’s coach, managed the Gaurs for three seasons before switching camps this season.
In this thread, we will be covering 5 fixtures of Game Week 18 from 8th of February to 11th of February 2021
ISL 2020-21 fixtures for round 18 and live match times
Match no 87 of the Indian Super League (ISL) will see Mumbai City FC lock horns with FC Goa at the GMC Stadium Bambolim on Monday.
This has undoubtedly been Mumbai’s best season in the ISL since its inception. The Islanders have won 10 games in the 2020-21 edition of the tournament, and ended up on the losing side just twice.
Mumbai City FC has a 66.66%-win rate, courtesy of their superiority at both ends of the field.
The side has managed to score 22 goals, which is the most by any team this season. Mumbai City FC has also conceded just eight goals, which is the least by any club in the ongoing edition of the ISL.
FC Goal have lost just three games this season, but find themselves 11 points behind their opponents. Separated by goal difference on the third spot in the ISL points table, the Gaurs are in a must-win situation.
Juan Fernando & Co. have been poor defensively so far, which has cost them. This can be seen in the number of fouls committed (220) by the side this season.
There has been an adverse reaction every time a foul has been committed. 55% of the goals scored against FC Goa have been conceded within two minutes of a foul.
Bipin Singh has dominated the left wing under coach Lobera and his rise has been pivotal for the islanders. Bipin’s consistency has favored his successful run so far having made 6 goal contributions (2G + 4A) in 14 games altogether.
He’s definitely a player to watch out for tonight.
Ahmed Jahouh and Hugo Boumous will be crucial for Mumbai’s outing against Goa. Their dominance in the midfield can definitely turn tables in their favour. Jahouh has accounted to almost a thousand passes in his 12 appearances whereas Boumous has assisted 6 times and scored once which makes him one of the best playmakers in the league.
The last ISL meeting between the sides took place on November 25, 2020 at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa. In an evenly poised contest, neither side broke the deadlock in the first half.
Despite the chances for both sides to open scoring, the match went into injury time for a twist in the tale as Adam le Fondre converted a goal from the spot in a 95th minute penalty to gift the Islanders the three points.
MumbaiCity FC’s Hugo Boumous and FC Goa’s Noguera Alberto are the players with the best differential between expected assists (3.02 & 2.02 respectively) and actual assists (6 & 5 respectively) in this ISL season (+2.98 xA value). Masters.
What a match! It ends 3-3 as both teams share the point. It seemed Mumbai had done enough to secure all 3 points but Goa fought back time and again to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat.
Following the result, FC Goa have managed to get back to the 3rd spot. Mumbai City FC remain the table leaders, but are now just 4 points ahead of the second placed ATK Mohun Bagan, having played a game more.
Game of the season at the Bambolim!
But MumbaiCity FC become the fastest team to qualify for the Indian Super League playoffs with 4 games still remaining
What a GAME… I actually though Mumbai City were going to run away with the 3 points after going in front with the 3rd goal but big credit to Goa FC for coming back twice to salvage a point from this game…you don’t get to do that against a team like Mumbai City often…Entertaining 96 mins of football
"About my opinion of the game, it is difficult to explain. Of course it’s amazing for the supporters of the game because two teams tried to play football. We had problems in transitions and set pieces but in terms of character, this is the best team in the ISL. They never give up.
"Today is Europe football, you can watch Liverpool vs West Brom. It’s similar. Two teams want to play, positional attack. There were problems in transitions for us with defence but with injuries also, it’s been hard. It has been hard in training with everyone in the hotel, in the same place.
“The second goal, it was a big mistake in man-to-man. But with injuries, we had to change and there was confusion. This is our fault and we need to get better in transitions. It is important to change this and improve.”
Mumbai City FC Head Coach Sergio Lobera After the Game
"I think it is important not only thinking about the result but also that we have reached the playoffs. It is not a happy moment for me as we lost in the last minute. We didn’t manage the situation with 2-0 lead and gave them the chance to bring themselves up. They believed till the end and I felt we lost two very important points for us.
"I think we lost two points. We had chances to score the third goal, we didn’t manage well. We conceded in the last minute. Definitely, points lost. But we need to learn and focus on the next game. They were two teams fighting till the end, it was a very good game. In this moment though, losing two points in the last moment, I am not happy.
up with a 
-way battle for the top 
places!
of the season for Igor Angulo!
