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Jamshedpur FC vs FC Goa (19th February 2020)
Another game that won’t have much impact on the top four, although it does hold massive significance for FC Goa. Courtesy the alteration in rules, the team that finishes the league stages at the top of the charts is set to gain entry into next season’s AFC Champions League, meaning that that is something the Gaurs would be targeting.
And, though Goa face the prospect of travelling to the Furnace on their final match-day, they might fancy themselves to finish their league campaign with a victory.
Despite the departure of Sergio Lobera, the Gaurs have looked superb and it would take a brave man to bet on them dropping points, especially against a defensively shaky defensive outfit.
While Goa too have been prone to the odd defensive lapse, they boast enough offensive pedigree to ease past the Red Miners on the 19th of February.
Score Prediction: Jamshedpur FC 1-3 FC Goa
NorthEast United FC vs Hyderabad FC (20th February 2020)
The encounter on the 20th pits two of the ISL’s bottom dwellers against each other. Thus, there could be a temptation for either side to ransack the other to symbolise their dominance, although Hyderabad FC would still not finish above the foot of the table, even with a victory.
However, with both teams playing for pride, one could expect them to have a go at each other and put the other under strife. And, if the recent game between Jamshedpur FC and NorthEast United is any indicator, one can expect the net to be rippled plenty of times in this contest.
Score Predictor: NorthEast United 2-2 Hyderabad FC
Mumbai City FC vs Chennaiyin FC (21st February 2020)
Arguably the most clutch clash of the ISL takes place on the 21st of February at the Mumbai Football Arena. At that juncture, both sides could find themselves embroiled in a potential quarter-final, with the winner all but guaranteed a spot in the semi-final on the 29th of February. Mumbai City FC were extremely scrappy in their opening three home games, with FC Goa and Odisha FC walloping them 4-2 in two of those fixtures. Since then though, they’ve lost just a solitary match at the Arena. During that period, they’ve staved off the challenge of Bengaluru FC whereas they also held their own against Hyderabad FC, despite enduring numerical inferiority.
Furthermore, they would come into the encounter on the back of two successive home wins, meaning that the feel-good factor could just power them over the finish line.
Chennaiyin, meanwhile, would most probably have their momentum saturated by the time they make the trip to Mumbai, thereby making their challenge considerably tougher.
Hence, the 21st of February could probably be the day when the Marina Machans’ late surge comes unstuck.
Score Prediction: Mumbai City FC 2-1 Chennaiyin FC
