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As the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 season gathers momentum, FC Goa are set to host Jamshedpur FC in a highly anticipated contest on Monday, November 27 at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Goa.
The Gaurs, who were the toppers of the league points’ table till Saturday night, dropped back to second place after Kerala Blasters secured a 1-0 win over Hyderabad FC. Manolo Marquez’ boys will hence be motivated all the more to try and secure a win on Monday, as the three points will help them return to the summit of the standings.
Jamshedpur FC, who will be playing their seventh league game of the season, will be looking for a victory as well, with an aim to close the gap between themselves and the teams currently in the playoff spots and to set a tone for the remainder of their campaign.
FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez expressed his optimism about the upcoming game.
“It’s very early (to say where FC Goa will finish their league campaign, in terms of points or position on the points’ table), because even the table is not balanced – some teams have played only four games and we have played five so far, while some others have completed seven matches.
“That said, it’s better to have 30 points than 3, 5, 7 or 12. It’s hence very good to have started with four wins and a draw, but still we’ll have to play a total of 22 games in the league stage,” he said at the pre-match press conference on Sunday.
“Right now, we’re focused on Jamshedpur FC alone. If you look at their numbers, you’ll know that while they haven’t scored very often, they haven’t conceded many, either. They conceded three goals in their most recent match, but otherwise, it’s never been more than once.
“Jamshedpur are very good tactically, and it’s very difficult to enter their defensive third. But we’ll have 90-100 minutes to try and win this game, so let’s see,” the tactician said, when asked about their opponents.
Looking at the head-to-head record, FC Goa have a historical advantage over Jamshedpur FC, having won 9 out of 17 encounters. The Goan side have also been in impressive form this season, boasting 70% win percentage with 7 victories, 2 draws, and just 1 loss in 10 matches.
On the other hand, Jamshedpur FC are currently facing a challenging phase with a winless run of three games and no clean sheet in the last three outings. Their current form reflects in the standings, as they find themselves in tenth position on the ISL table with 5 points from 6 games.
FC Goa’s attacking prowess has been a highlight this league season, scoring a total of 9 goals in 5 games. A total of eight different players have found the back of the net for the Gaurs, which is a rather impressive achievement that would add to their confidence.
The Men in Orange have also showcased the best defensive record in ISL 2023-24 so far, conceding only 3 goals while also keeping 3 clean-sheets..
In contrast, Scott Cooper’s boys have struggled to find the back of the net, scoring only 4 goals in 6 games, which is the joint-worst in the league. The onus will be on their attacking unit to break through the hosts’ solid defence.
All eyes will now be on the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where FC Goa aim to extend their unbeaten run and re-establish themselves at the top of the league table. Jamshedpur FC, meanwhile, will be desperate to turn their fortunes around and would surely be hoping for a positive result on Monday.
