PANJIM: Hyderabad FC will look to bridge the gap on leaders Mumbai City FC and move to second in the points table when they take on wooden spooners SC East Bengal in the Hero Indian Super League at the Athletic Stadium in Bambolim on Thursday.
Hyderabad are on a five-match unbeaten streak, the joint longest unbeaten streak this season along with Kerala Blasters. Hyderabad have a game in hand and with a win against lowly SC East Bengal, they can move to second spot with 14 points, one adrift of Mumbai who have 15 from seven matches.
The Nizams have looked one of the most balanced sides this season with attack and defence clicking in tandem. Australian forward Joel Chianese has been impactful for Hyderabad chipping in with one goal and two assists in 282 minutes this season. Chianese has played as the second striker behind Bart Ogbeche and has rotated with Edu Garcia for a place in the starting XI.
Hyderabad have conceded five goals in six league games this season, they boast the second-best defensive record in the league after Chennaiyin FC. Manolo Marquez will know all too well that this is their best opportunity to cut the gap at the top of the heap. In SC East Bengal, they have a side who are on an 11-match winless streak (4 matches last season and 7 matches this season).
