2 weeks Ago
There is a popular notion in football that it is always favourable to get a home match in the second leg of a crucial knockout clash. FC Goa will have that luxury as it faces Bengaluru FC in the second instalment of their Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 semifinal tie at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Sunday. However, Manolo Marquez and his outfit will step on the pitch with an uphill battle to conquer after losing 0-2 courtesy of a Sandesh Jhingan own goal and an Edgar Mendez strike four days back at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.
If group-stage performance is taken as one of the parameters of success, Bengaluru already shattered the narrative in the first leg with a confident victory despite finishing 10 points below Goa at the end of the league phase. While the Gaurs finished second with 48 points, Bengaluru grabbed third place with 38. Marquez said after the first leg that the final scoreline was not a true reflection of the game and that his team had more control than their opponents.
While the numbers show that while FC Goa had the better numbers in most of the attacking parameters, Bengaluru clinched the match by being clinical in the final third. Edgar Mendez of Bengaluru FC celebrates scoring his side’s second goal.Photos : Baranidharan M / Focus Sports / FDSL | Photo Credit: Baranidharan M Therefore, the main agenda that the Spaniard will push ahead of the second leg is to urge his team to be more clinical in the final third and backed by the vociferous home support, Marquez is confident of a positive finish in the tie.
ANALYSIS | How Goa and Marquez played themselves into Bengaluru’s trap “Finally, it’s a game. In the regular season, we beat them 3-0. There is always hope.
There will be a lot of fans at the Fatorda. We want the supporters to come to the stadium and do as good as or better, if possible, than the Bengaluru FC fans,” said Marquez. It is unlikely that the managers would make big tweaks to their system for the second leg.
Marquez will likely go with his trusted 4-2-3-1 shape, where Akash Sangwan, Jhingan, Odei Onaindia and Boris Singh Thangjam will make the back four. Carl McHugh and Sahil Tavora will play as the double pivot in midfield and look to transition the play between the defence and the trio of Brison Fernandes, Borja Herrera and Udanta Singh. Playing as the lone striker would be Iker Guarrotxena.
Zaragoza has all the more reason not to change his winning lineup and the 4-4-2 diamond formation, which has worked well for the Blues in the play-offs. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu should start between the sticks with a back four of Namgyal Bhutia, Chinglesana Singh, Rahul Bheke and Naorem Roshan Singh. Pedro Capo will sit in front of the defence with Suresh Singh Wangjam and Sivasakthi Narayanan playing as the wide midfielders.
The experienced Alberto Noguera will play as the attacking midfielder behind the two attackers Ryan Williams and Mendez. BFC boss Zaragoza will have to take the call on whether to either start Sunil Chhetri or introduce him from the bench.Photos : Baranidharan M / Focus Sports / FDSL | Photo Credit: Baranidharan M It remains to be seen whether Zaragoza starts Sunil Chhetri or brings him on from the bench as he did in the first leg, where he replaced Sivasakthi in the 57th minute.
With 13 goals, Chhetri is the highest Indian goalscorer this season and has a strong case for starting such a crucial match. However, with Bengaluru starting the clash with a 2-0 aggregate lead, Zaragoza may choose a bench role for the veteran. A deficit to overcome, playing in front of home fans and a place in the finals – FC Goa has plenty of incentives to come out all guns blazing, but as the season has shown, Bengaluru FC, on its day, can virtually dominate every department on the football pitch.
Comments Related Topics FC Goa / Bengaluru FC / Manolo Marquez Latest on Sportstar.
