EBFC vs FCG Match Details
Date: Saturday, 21 October 2023
Time: 17:00 (IST)
Venue: Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneshwar
EBFC vs FCG Match Preview
Due to the mega festival of Durga Puja starting in Kolkata, East Bengal are forced to play their next game at the Kalinga Stadium away from their city and state. The lack of security at the Salt Lake Stadium for the occasion is the reason for the complete shift of venue and the Red and Gold have to adjust to it. Carles Cuadrat’s men will miss the home atmosphere if not completely as they look to bounce back from their unlucky 2-1 defeat to Bengaluru FC before the international break. Even though Mahesh Singh’s brilliance gave the Kolkata side the lead in their first away game of the season, the Blues equalized through a questionable penalty won and converted by their skipper Sunil Chhetri. Frustration grew when the referee ignored East Bengal’s plea for handball when the ball struck Ryan Williams’s arm in the box. Ex-Mohun Bagan player Javi Hernandez then went on to seal all three points for the home side with an acrobatic winner. The first loss for East Bengal this season puts them seventh in the table after three games. The Torch Bearers will now have to regather their form against a high-flying FC Goa team in a different venue if not unknown.
Jay Gupta’s stunning winner in the last minute of the stoppage time helped FC Goa win an absolute thriller against Odisha FC 3-2 at Fatorda. In this battle between two sides managed by Sergio Lobera, another Spaniard Manolo Marquez they reigned supreme after his side twice had to cut out former player Mourtada Fall’s strikes from corners. As often their contributor, Noah Sadaoui’s brace was helpful for the Gaurs to take back-to-back wins in the season. The victory lifted them to third position with six points gathered from two games after their season opener against Hyderabad FC was postponed to a later date. They are now trailing league toppers Mohun Bagan Super Giant by just three points which they want to level up with another win in the next match. The Mariners will not be in ISL action this weekend. Instead, the Kolkata giants will play their third group match against Bangladesh’s Basundhara Kings in the AFC Cup. So, FC Goa have a golden opportunity to dislodge the Green and Maroons from the top spot by maintaining their excellent record against their rivals. The Gaurs suffered just one loss in five meetings with East Bengal and registered three victories.
EBFC vs FCG Predicted Lineups
EBFC: Prabhsukhan Gill; Harmanjot Khabra, Lalchungnunga, Hijazi Maher, Mandar Rao;
Mahesh Singh, Borja Herrera, Saul Crespo, Souvik Chakraborty, Nadha Kumar; Cleiton Silva
FCG: Arshdeep Singh; Seriton Fernandes, Odei Onaindia, Sandesh Jhingan, Jay Gupta; Raynier Fernandes, Carl McHugh; Udanta Singh, Brandon Fernandes, Noah Sadaoui; Carlos Martinez
EBFC vs FCG Head to Head
Played - 5
EBFC won - 1
Drawn - 1
FCG won - 3
EBFC vs FCG Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Arshdeep (7.5)
DEF: Lalchungnunga (7), Jhingan (8.5), J Gupta (7.5)
MID: B Fernandes (8.5), Crespo (9), B Herrera (8.5), Sadaoui (9)
FW: Mahesh (8.5), C Martinez (8), C Silva (9)
Vice-captain: Cleiton Silva
Captain: Noah Sadaoui
Stay tuned to ISL 2023-24 for upcoming matches.
