Odisha FC hopes to go level on points with league leaders FC Goa with a win in their trip to Kolkata to face East Bengal.
East Bengal FC vs Odisha FC Match Details
Date: Friday, 22 December 2023
Time: 20:00 (IST)
Venue: Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata
East Bengal FC vs Odisha FC Match Preview
For the second consecutive game, East Bengal played out a goalless draw in the ISL and this time snatched a point out of Shield holders Mumbai City FC, for the second time in this meeting. The result also meant they stayed unbeaten in Mumbai Football Arena having secured a 1-0 victory there last season. While the defensive solidity shown by the Red and Golds was commendable, the concern remains with their toothless attack that put up only one shot on target for successive games. Carles Cuadrat will want his backline to remain intact against a free-scoring Odisha team, not failed to score since the 4-0 loss to the Kolkata side's rivals Mohun Bagan in the AFC Cup, although hopes that his forwards break the deadlock to get on the scoresheet. A win for East Bengal will take them to the playoff places before the Asian Cup break but they are facing a side whom they have defeated just once so far in six league meetings.
Odisha FC built up on their qualification to the knockouts in their debut AFC Cup campaign with a 3-0 thrashing of bottom side Hyderabad FC in the ISL. As has been a trademark for him from set-pieces, Mourtada Fall scored for the Juggernauts having also scored the winner in the all-important continental victory over Basundhara Kings in between a Roy Krishna brace. Maintaining an eight-game unbeaten run with this being their fifth win in nine ISL matches, Sergio Lobera’s side are now just three points away from the top spot presently held by FC Goa on 20 points. Odisha FC are confident of picking their second away win of the season in ISL against East Bengal knowing they will face two of three bottom-placed sides in the final two games of the year. This is a period in which the Spanish coach will want his boys to collect nothing else but all three points to solidify their hunt for the ISL Shield.
EBFC vs OFC Recent Form (ISL)
EBFC: DDWDL
OFC: WDWWW
East Bengal FC vs Odisha FC Predicted Lineups
East Bengal FC:
Prabhsukhan Gill; Nishu Kumar, Lalchungnunga, Hijazi Maher, Mandar Rao; Souvick Chakraborty, Saul Crespo, Borja Herrera; Mahesh Singh, Cleiton Silva, Nandha Kumar
Odisha FC:
Amrinder Singh; Amey Ranawade, Mourtada Fall, Carlos Delgado, Jerry Lalrinzuala; Ahmed Jahouh, Lenny Rodrigues; Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Puitea, Aniket Jadav; Roy Krishna
East Bengal FC vs Odisha FC Head to Head (all competitions)
Played - 7
EBFC won - 1
Drawn - 1
OFC won - 5
East Bengal FC vs Odisha FC Head to Head (ISL)
Played - 6
EBFC won - 1
Drawn - 0
OFC won - 5
East Bengal FC vs Odisha FC Dream11 Team Prediction
Odisha FC will likely come up with a win in this meeting against East Bengal despite the opposition keeping three clean sheets on the spin.
East Bengal FC vs Odisha FC Dream11 Fantasy Suggestions
Captain Pick: Ahmed Jahouh
Vice-captain Pick: Roy Krishna, Cleiton Silva
Others: Mahesh Singh, Mourtada Fall
Our top pick for EBFC vs OFC is Ahmed Jahouh who has got 10 goal contributions (2 goals, 8 assists) in all competitions this season. The other top pick is Mourtada Fall, who scored seven goals from set-pieces.
EBFC vs OFC Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Amrinder (7.5)
DEF: Ranawade (9), Fall (8.5), Mandar (8)
MID: Jerry M (8.5), Jahouh (8), Crespo (9), B Herrera (8.5),
FW: Mahesh (8.5), Krishna (7.5), C Silva (9)
Captain: Ahmed Jahouh
Vice-captain: Roy Krishna
Stay tuned to Fantasy Football for upcoming ISL matches.
