Mohun Bagan will look to continue their impressive undefeated run in I-League 2016 as they take on Sporting Clube de Goa for the second time this season at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda.
The Mariners, currently leaders in the table with 21 points from nine games, defeated the Flaming Oranje 1-0 last month, with Katsumi Yusa the only scorer in the game.
The Goan side, though, have been decent this season, and currently lie fourth in the table with three wins, three defeats and three draws. After their 1-0 defeat against Mohun Bagan, Sporting Goa recorded a 2-2 draw against Mumbai FC.
Mateus Costa's side got the opener through Mahmoud Al Amna, but MumbaiFC looked like getting a win when they went up 2-1. However, Victorino Fernandes provided the much-needed equaliser at Cooperage to give Sporting Goa a share of the points.
To bolster their lineup this season, Sporting Clube de Goa have signed players like Indian defensive rock Mehrajuddin Wadoo as well as midfielder Denson Devadas, and Sanjoy Sen, Mohun Bagan coach, feels that has made their opponents a real threat for the other teams.
"They have signed a couple of new players like Mehrajuddin in defence, Denson in midfield, Mahmoud didn't play the against us at Barasat and Odafa (Okolie) is always there to crack your defence," Sen was quoted as saying by i-league.org ahead of the game. "We have to be very cautious, especially after their results against Mumbai FC in their last two matches."
Sen has a problem of plenty in terms of selecting the playing XI, as everyone is in the best of form. Luciano Sobrosa and Pronay Halder will return from suspension, while Lenny Rodrigues is also fit to take part in the game.
"There is a tremendous competition in our team that once you are out, it will be very difficult to come back in. Lenny was not playing for so long because of injury, but now it is very difficult to keep Lenny out also. The players know also that one slip here and there and they may be out of the team. So it's very good to have sporting competition in our team also," added Sen to Goal.
There are no injury worries for Sporting Goa as well and Costa wants to make use of the fully fit squad available to get all the three points against Mohun Bagan.
"If we want to stay in the quest for the title, three points are very crucial but Mohun Bagan are playing like a complete team, they are almost playing a flawless football," the Sporting Clube de Goa coach said. "100 percent won't be enough for the match. We have to give 200 percent to get those points."
Where to watch live
Sporting Clube de Goa vs Mohun Bagan is scheduled to kick-off at 7:05 p.m. IST (1:35 p.m. GMT), March 1.
In India (and the rest of the Asian subcontinent), viewers can catch the game on Ten Action. Online streaming will be available on tensports.com.
Viewers in Germany, Austria, Russia, Switzerland and Gerogia can catch up with the game with online streaming will be available on LAOLA1.
Other countries can follow the I-League live scores on the I-League Twitter handle.
