Hyderabad FC wishes to start off 2023 in the same fashion as they ended the last year by making the trip to Fatorda to take on FC Goa.
The Gaurs lost 2-1 to ATK Mohun Bagan in the last game of 2022 while the Nizams thrashed NorthEast United 6-1 at home.
FCG vs HFC Match Details
Date: Thursday, 05 January 2023
Time: 19:30 (IST)
Venue: Fatorda Stadium, Fatorda
FCG vs HFC Match Preview
Ending a year on a losing note was not the result FC Goa would have hoped entering into a new one. The 2-1 loss to ATK Mohun Bagan away might have been a narrow one but it leaves the Gaur without a victory in the last two ISL outings. The 2-2 draw against tenth-placed Jamshedpur FC in the other away match prior to this caused worry about the team’s form which is hugely inconsistent. Both of the results showed Goa’s inability to show the same ruthless nature in uncomfortable situations of the game. Despite being in the playoff spot, Goa have lost equal most games among the top six with five compared to others who haven’t been defeated more than three times at least. The Gaurs do have a five points advantage over seventh-placed Chennaiyin FC to qualify for the playoffs, hoping not to reduce it further. Goa will start off 2023 welcoming the ISL title holders and current league leaders Hyderabad FC at Fatorda in a difficult encounter. The Gaurs have lost only one game at home this season with four wins registered out of their six overall and also carry a decent record in this meeting. However, they have not collected three points in any of the last four face-offs. Carlos Pena’s side will be desperate to change that on Thursday against a Hyderabad FC team in exhilarating form.
The 6-1 battering of NorthEast United meant Hyderabad FC ended 2022 on top of the ISL table. In the past two seasons, the league leaders in the first half of the season have failed to maintain their place at the end thereby missing out on the ISL Winner’s Shield. The Nizams will hope not to repeat the failure of Mumbai City FC and ATK Mohun Bagan in the past and clinch the silverware they missed out narrowly to Jamshedpur FC last season. Hyderabad FC won the ISL title though and once again prove their champions mentality in the huge year-end win over the Highlanders. Javier Siverio, who has been struggling for goals this season, scored an emphatic brace along with solo strikes from Borja Herrerra, Odei Onaindia and substitute Joel Chianese while the final one was an own goal from NorthEast defender Gaurav Bora. It could have been more if Bartholomew Ogebeche and Mohammad Yasir did not miss easy chances of scoring later on in the game. The goal fest will give Manolo Marquez’s side huge confidence for the rest of the season. At the same time, it will strike more fear in the rest. The Nizams now look to start the new year on a high with a win over FC Goa whom they have defeated in the last two meetings. Hyderabad FC have the chance to retain the first place on the table, lost after Mumbai City defeated Odisha FC three days back, with two easy fixtures on paper to deal with before a potential Shield-deciding game against the Islanders early next month.
Recent Form
FCG: LDWWL
HFC: WWWWL
FCG vs HFC Predicted Lineups
FCG: Dheeraj Singh; Seriton Fernandes, Marc Valiente, Anwar Ali, Aibanbha Dohling; Glan Martins, Edu Bedia; Brandon Fernandes, Iker Guarrotxena, Redeem Tlang; Noah Sadaoui
HFC: Gurmeet Singh; Nikhil Poojary, Onei Onaindia, Nim Dorjee, Akash Mishra; Hitesh Sharma, Borja Herrera; Mohammad Yasir, Bartholomew Ogbeche, Holicharan Narzary; Javier Siverio
FCG vs HFC Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Dheeraj (7.5)
DEF: Poojary (8), Anwar (8.5), Mishra (8.5)
MID: Yasir (9), Bedia (9), Guarrotxena (8.5), Narzary (9),
FW: Ogbeche (8.5), Sadaoui (9), Siverio (7.5)
Vice-captain: Edu Bedia
Captain: Mohammad Yasir
Stay tuned to Fantasy Football for upcoming matches.
