The 10th season of the Indian Super League (ISL) is at the business end and fans cannot keep their calm as the race for the top spot is heating up. All top five teams are in contention to be the league leaders and to win the ‘Shield.’
That will also ensure a direct slot in the next edition of the AFC Champions League. Last year, Mumbai City FC finished at the top at the end of the league phase and represented India in the Champions League. Now, the top five teams are looking for a strong finish as scenarios to cement the top spot are getting complicated!
Here are the possibilities:
Mumbai City FC
Mumbai are on the path to winning the ‘Shield’ in a consecutive year. They are currently leading the table with 39 points in 19 games. A huge 4-1 win over NorthEast United gave them a 3-point lead over Mohun Bagan. But they have only three games left. Last year, they won the ‘Shield’ with 46 points in 20 matches.
If the Aamchi Mumbai brigade win all their remaining games, they can notch up 48 points this time round and that will turn out to be the highest point tally for any season in the history of this competition. But, Odisha at home and Mohun Bagan away will be two crucial games to decide their fate. Even the clash against the green and maroon brigade can be the decider about who will get the top spot!
Remaining matches: vs Hyderabad (Away), vs Odisha (Home), vs Mohun Bagan (Away)
Mohun Bagan Super Giant
After a dismal start to this ISL season, Antonio Lopez Habas’ arrival has changed the fate of this club drastically. Mohun Bagan are currently on a seven-game unbeaten run (5 wins, 2 draws) in the league and will look to continue this momentum in the upcoming five games. The Green and Marron Brigade are in the second spot with 36 points in 17 matches. With all wins in the remaining games, they can become the first team to get 50+ points in an ISL season. With this current red-hot form, they are expected to defeat Chennaiyin at home.
But, their first huge test will be facing Kerala Blasters FC in Kerala on March 13 (today). Kerala were the last team who defeated them in ISL before this streak and that, too, in Kolkata. Then, away fixtures against Punjab and Bengaluru will not be an easy task as those teams will also push for a win to have a chance to be the sixth-placed team. However, all eyes will be on Habas’s side when they take on Mumbai City FC in their last game of the league phase at Yuvabharati Stadium on April 14.
Remaining matches: vs Kerala Blasters (Away), vs Chennaiyin FC (Home), vs Punjab FC (Away), vs Bengaluru (Away), vs Mumbai City FC (Home)
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Odisha FC
Odisha have managed to produce some quality football this season with the help of their head coach, Sergio Lobera. Apart from being the third-best team so far in the league (35 points in 18 games), they reached the Super Cup final and played in the Inter-zonal Semi Final of the AFC Cup. But, in the first leg, the Juggernauts got hammered 4-0 by Central Coast Mariners as the second leg is scheduled to take place on March 14 in Bhubaneswar.
But in the ongoing ISL, they still have four matches to play and three of them are away fixtures. On paper, they are expected to get three points against Punjab FC and struggling NorthEast United FC. But, playing Bengaluru and Mumbai away will not be an easy task for Odisha. With four wins, the maximum they can get is 47 points.
Remaining Matches: vs Bengaluru FC (Away), vs Punjab FC (Home), vs Mumbai City FC (Away), vs NorthEast United FC (Away)
FC Goa
Goa had a fantastic start to this year’s competition. At one stage, the Gaurs were on a 12-match unbeaten streak. But after that, they suffered three back-to-back defeats along with two hard-fought draws and a win over East Bengal. Currently, Manolo Márquez’s side are sitting in the fourth spot with 33 points in 18 games.
A win in all the upcoming four games will take them to 45 points. However, apart from Jamshedpur FC, all the opponents belong to the bottom half of the table and three out of four games are going to be played at their home. So, with the help of their home support, The Gaurs will look to put in a good show and finish the league phase on a high!
Remaining Matches: vs Bengaluru FC (Home), vs Hyderabad FC (Home), vs Jamshedpur FC (Away), vs Chennaiyin FC (Home)
Kerala Blasters
Kerala are currently in the fifth position with 29 points in 17 games. But in the last five games, they won just once. So, the recent form has become a worry for the Yellow Army. Teams below them are also in the race to catch a playoff spot. So, first, they must ensure their place by putting themselves out of reach.
They can get to the 44-point maximum mark but they have to face both Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC at home. The other three away fixtures can be tricky also for Ivan Vukomanović’s side. Last year also they finished in the fifth spot. So, this year again, will the Tuskers finish at the same spot or will move up to the table, fans are eager to see!
Remaining Matches: vs Mohun Bagan Super Giant (Home), vs Jamshedpur FC (Away), vs East Bengal FC (Home), vs NorthEast United FC (Away), vs Hyderabad FC (Away)
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