ISL 2020-21 is set to kick-off today. Stage is all set for the opener between Kerala Blasters and newly formed ATK Mohun Bagan. The recent merger saw the famous I League champions Mohun Bagan and ATK come together under one umbrella.
Can the defending champions ATK Mohun Bagan continue to dominate this season as well?
ISL 2020-21, Kerala Blasters vs ATK Mohun Bagan
Kerala Blasters FC go up against ATK Mohun Bagan at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim in this season’s opening match.
The Blasters have played in more Hero ISL season openers than any other team, while ATK Mohun Bagan will be making their debut in the league.
Two-time Hero ISL runners-up Kerala Blasters will be looking to qualify for their first playoff appearance in four seasons with head coach Kibu Vicuna taking charge of the club.
Both teams will be eager to begin their respective campaigns on a positive note and build some momentum for what promises to be a challenging season.
Kerala Blasters Opening match record:
Played 
Won 
Drew 
Lost
Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspurs sends best wishes to Indian Super League:
Best wishes to all ISL clubs for a splendid 2020/21 season of football in Goa! 
Two-time runner-up Kerala record in the league:
Appearances - 102
Won 29 matches
Win-percentage 28.4%
The two-time ISL champion ATK, who has merged with the two-time I-League champion Mohun Bagan, has the second-most wins in ISL history.
Appearances 107
Won 41 matches
Win-percentage 38.3%
Overall Head To Head - KBFC - ATK (Total: 14 | Wins - ATK: 5, KBFC: 4 , Draws: 5)
Recent Head-to-Head form - KBFC-ATK - Last 5 games
ATK 0 -1 KBFC
KBFC 2 - 1 ATK
KBFC 1-1 ATK
ATK 0-2 KBFC
ATK 2-2 KBFC
Roy Krishna breaks deadlock, scored the opening goal. The 67th-minute goal from Roy Krishna was good enough to see ATK Mohun Bagan off to a winning start in the 7th season of the ISL.
The Mariners next face their arch-rivals East Bengal on November 27 while Kerala Blasters take on NorthEast United on Nov 26 before the Kolkata derby.
Hero Man of the Match award goes to Roy Krishna. 
Match-winner Roy goes down in ATK Mohun Bagan history as the first goal-scorer. 
In Match 2 of the Indian Super League 2020-21 season, NorthEast United FC will lock horns against Mumbai City FC at Tilak Maidan in Vasco.
NEUFC finished last season at the 9th spot on the points table with only two wins in 18 games. The club has gone for an overhaul this season as it made a whopping 19 signings.
On the other hand, Mumbai City lacked consistency last season and finished 5th on the points table with just 7 wins in 18 matches. They will too look to kick start the season with a win.
NorthEast United XI (4-3-3)
Subhasish Roy Chowdhury; Ashutosh Mehta, Benjamin Lambot, Dylan Fox, Gurjinder Kumar; Khassa Camara, Lalrempuia Fanai, Lalengmawia; Luis Machado, Kwesi Appiah, Ninthoinganba Meetei
Mumbai City FC XI (4-2-3-1)
Amrinder Singh; Mohammad Rakip, Hernan Santana, Sarthak Golui, Mandar Rao Dessai; Ahmed Jahouh, Rowllin Borges; Adam Le Fondre, Hugo Boumous, Raynier Fernandes; Bartholomew Ogbeche
Can he continue his performance tonight?
NEUFC managed a rare win against Mumbai City, only their 4th win in 13 meetings. Kwesi Appiah’s 49th-minute penalty secured the win for the Highlanders! A winning start for Gerard Nus as head coach.
Sergio Lobera’s revamped Mumbai squad dominated the proceedings even with a man down, but they couldn’t convert their chances at all. The rock-solid defence of NEUFC worked well as a unit to deny Mumbai the equalizer with sharp interceptions and tackles.
FC Goa vs Bengaluru FC - head-to-head rivalry, form guide…
FC Goa will host Bengaluru FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda in Goa at 7.30pm IST tonight. Both the teams couldn’t make it to the ISL Final last season, after losing their semi-final clashes. While FC Goa lost to Chennaiyin FC 5-6 on aggregate, Bengaluru FC faced defeat against ATK.
FC Goa, however, had a glorious season last year, finishing as the league stage toppers and also the top goal-scorers.
Bengaluru FC earned praises for having the best defence last season but their biggest problem was lack of goals. This season Bengaluru would like to think that they have dealt with that problem following the arrival of two new forwards, Cleiton Silva and Kristian Opseth.
Looking back at their playing history, FC Goa have been able to defeat Bengaluru FC only once, while Bengaluru FC have beaten FC Goa 5 times, with one match concluding in a draw.
Tonight, Chhetri and team would look to overcome last year’s blues and hit the right notes.
FC Goa and Bengaluru FC Squad
FC Goa - Bengaluru FC
Recent Head-to-Head form (Last 5 games)
BFC has also dominated FCG in the recent, winning four of the last five encounters.
Last 5 Games:
FCG 1-2 BFC
BFC 3-0 FCG
BFC 1-0 FCG
FCG 1-1 BFC
BFC 2-1 FCG
STAT ATTACK FROM THE FIXTURE
Goals scored:
FC Goa: 7
Bengaluru FC: 14
Top 3 scorers:
4 goals-Ferran “Coro” Corominas (FCG)-4
3 goals-Miku (BFC) and Sunil Chhetri (BFC)-3
2 goals- Rahul Bheke (BFC) and Udanta Singh (BFC)-2
Clean sheets:
FC Goa: 0
Bengaluru FC: 3
Superb comeback by Goa!
Igor Angulo’s scored a brace on his debut to guide FC Goa to 2-2 draw against Bengaluru FC.
After Cleiton Silva bagged a goal in the 27th minute to put Bengaluru ahead leading 1-0. After the break, Juanan doubled the lead with a volley in the 57th minute. But FC Goa showed grit soon after as they turned the match on its head in 3 minutes. Igor Angulo scored twice in the 66th and the 69th minute of the match to snatch a point from Bengaluru.
Igor Angulo, FC Goa’s star player of the night, picks up the Hero of the Match award!
Alexander Jesuraj gets the DHL Winning Pass of the Match for assisting FC Goa’s equaliser!
Both clubs in their second season and both clubs were in similar situations last season. FC Odisha faired slightly better at 6th on the Table with 25 points while Hyderabad FC were at the bottom of the table (10th) with 10 points.
It will be interesting to watch them this season with new leadership at the helm and an ambition to perform better than their previous campaign.
Odisha FC vs Hyderabad FC Head to Head:
Total Matches: 02
Odisha FC won: 02
Hyderabad FC won: -
Odisha FC vs Hyderabad FC last game stats:
Hyderabad FC 1 – 2 Odisha FC
STAT ATTACK FROM THE FIXTURE
Goals scored:
Odisha FC: 5
Hyderabad FC: 3
TOP GOAL SCORERS
2 goals - Aridane Santana (OFC)
1 goal - Xisco Hernandez (OFC), Carlos Delgado (OFC), Perez Guedes (OFC), Bobo (HFC), Rohit Kumar (HFC), Marcelinho (HFC)
