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FC Pune City host FC Goa in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium in Pune on Sunday. The Stallions, who are currently second, know that a win would cement their playoff spot. They are also on a good run of form, being unbeaten in their last three fixtures, and will want to get the decisive three points in front of their home fans. Meanwhile, the Gaurs, who started their campaign on a high, have had a severe dip in form of late. They are winless in their last five fixtures, losing three of them, something that has pulled them down the table to a lowly seventh. With just three fixtures remaining, Goa need maximum points from all of them to guarantee a playoff berth.
HEAD TO HEAD
FC Goa 2–3 FC Pune City (2 Draws)
KEY PLAYERS
Ashique Kuruniyan (FC Pune City)
The 20-year-old has been one of the most promising youngsters in the league. He is quick with his feet and is a great dribbler while also being an incisive passer of the ball. A handful for any defence in the league, Ashique has a goal and two assists to his name and he will look to inspire his team to a win over Goa.
Ferran Corominas (FC Goa)
The Spaniard is the league’s top scorer with 13 goals, but he has not found the back of the net in his last three matches. Though 35 years old, he has shown a quick turn of pace and is clinical in front of goal, ready to pounce at the slightest opportunity. He picks his passes well, turning provider for three assists so far, and his team will desperately need him to fire all cylinders at Pune.
POTENTIAL STARTING LINEUPS
FC Pune City
Ranko Popovic may use a 4-2-3-1 formation, which ensures their attack receives good service from the midfield.
Goalkeeper: Vishal Kaith
Defenders: Sarthak Golui, Gurtej Singh, Rafael Lopez, Lalchhuanmawia Fanai
Midfielders: Diego Carlos, Adil Khan, Jonatan Lucca, Marcelinho, Ashique Kuruniyan
Forward: Emiliano Alfaro
Stallions’ head coach on the possibility of a maiden playoff appearance: “It (sealing a playoff) is important because it’s the history of the club. It’s the same for us. Every game that we play we try to take the three points. This is what I was talking about from the beginning. If you win the games, in the end, you will have good position and reach your target. This is the same. It’s a big thing if we are in the semi-finals.”
FC Goa
Sergio Lobera will most likely counter with a 4-4-2 formation to accommodate two strikers as he looks to go all-out in search of goals.
Goalkeeper: Naveen Kumar
Defenders: Narayan Das, Mohamed Ali, Sergio Juste, Seriton Fernandes
Midfielders: Hugo Boumous, Brandon Fernandes, Mandar Rao Dessai, Manuel Lanzarote
Forward: Ferran Corominas, Mark Sifneos
Gaurs head coach on his team’s current performances: “It’s true that we haven’t been having a good past few games, and we only managed to get two points in them. But if you look at the past, you also have to take into account that we actually did well before the five games that we just talked about, and we depend upon ourselves in the upcoming three games. What we look at now is the future,and the future begins tomorrow.”
KEY STATS
– Goa have conceded the second-highest number of goals (27) this season, while Pune have conceded the second-least (15)
– Only Bengaluru FC have won more matches (11) than the Stallions (9)
– Goa are yet to keep a clean sheet this season
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTER
FC Goa 0–2 FC Pune City (23rd December 2017 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa)
FORM GUIDE (Last five matches)
FC Goa: D L L D L
FC Pune City: D W W L W
