Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Two teams that dominate most of the statistics in the Hero Indian Super League will go head-to-head when Mumbai City FC take on FC Goa at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim on Monday.
Mumbai and Goa are first and second in most metrics, except on the table where the latter lie third, a full eleven points behind. Sergio Lobera has once again got his team to hog the ball throughout the season, an aspect at which he has only been bettered by Juan Ferrando, the man who replaced him as Goa coach. Goa’s 59 percent possession and 489 passes per game are the highest such numbers in the league with Mumbai’s 56 percent possession and 486 passes per game come a close second. Mumbai has the best passing accuracy in the league (75.71%) while Goa comes in second with 74.04%.
The first game between these two teams was heavily hyped with Lobera taking on his former team, but it did not quite live up to his billing with Goa’s Redeem Tlang receiving an early red card and tipping the scales in Mumbai’s favour. Both teams will be eager to prove a point as they go head-to-head again.
For Mumbai, a win is necessary to keep top spot with ATK Mohun Bagan now just three points behind. But with Goa unbeaten in eight games, he knows that is easier said than done. “We are playing against a very good team,” said Lobera. “They are playing under pressure because they need to reach the playoffs and now, there are more teams competing to achieve this target. We are thinking about ourselves, trying to improve a few things. As always, it’s important to know some details about the opponent.”
