Three points and one step away from history, Mohun Bagan Super Giant aim to become first team to defend ISL title, with win against Odisha FC

Mohun Bagan Super Giant are set to host Odisha FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 on February 23, Sunday, at 7:30 pm IST.
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Kolkata, February 22: Mohun Bagan Super Giant are set to host Odisha FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 on February 23, Sunday, at 7:30 pm IST. Placed at the top of the standings with 49 points from 21 games, the Mariners now need just a single win to become the ISL League Winners and defend their title, becoming the first team to do so in league history.

The second-placed FC Goa have 39 points from 20 encounters, and can at maximum get to 51 if they win all of their remaining encounters. Three points from here will take Mohun Bagan Super Giant to 52, thus guaranteeing the championship for them.

Odisha FC are looking to break into the top-6, since they are positioned seventh presently with 29 points from 21 games. Sixth-placed Mumbai City FC have 32 points and hence qualifying for the playoffs is a realistic objective for the Juggernauts, who have never won an away game against the Mariners in four attempts (D1 L3).

Odisha FC come into this match on the back of a strong attacking record, having netted 40 goals from inside the box this season, the highest of any team in the competition. However, they will face a challenge against Mohun Bagan Super Giant, who have conceded just 11 such goals – the lowest of any team this term, while also keeping the most clean sheets (13) in the competition.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s Comprehensive Dominance

•⁠ ⁠Clean Sheet Sequence: The Mariners have recorded shutouts in each of their last five ISL games. Another clean sheet in this fixture would make them the first team in ISL history to record it in six consecutive games.

•⁠ Home Record: Jose Molina’s side have not faced losses in their last 10 home games in the ISL, their longest such run in the competition. Only Bengaluru FC (19), Odisha FC (13), and Kerala Blasters FC (11) have had longer unbeaten home streaks.

Odisha FC’s Offensive Strength

•⁠ Historic Opportunity: Odisha FC won their last ISL game at the venue by defeating East Bengal FC 2-1 on December 12, 2024. They now have the chance to claim consecutive wins at the venue for the first time in ISL history.

•⁠ Diego Mauricio’s Milestone: The striker has scored 47 ISL goals and is three away from becoming only the fourth player to reach 50 goals in the competition, but he has not scored against the Mariners yet. Mauricio has netted nine times and assisted on six instances in 2024-25.

Head-to-Head

The two teams have faced each other 12 times in the competition, with Mohun Bagan Super Giant winning five times and Odisha FC emerging victorious once. Six matches produced draws.

Coaches Corner

“We are not in a position to relax”

Mohun Bagan Super Giant head coach Jose Molina brushed aside suggestions that his team is in a situation to take it easy in the coming matches.

“We are not in a position to relax. We need to go out there and keep fighting in every game,” he said.

“We need to find a certain balance”

Odisha FC head coach Sergio Lobera said that his side will have to be defensively diligent in the coming match.

“Obviously we need to find a certain balance. We can’t concede too many chances in this game as it can prove to be very dangerous against this opponent,” he said.

Key Players & Milestones

•⁠ Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s Manvir Singh has scored 26 ISL goals, the fourth-highest by an Indian player, behind Sunil Chhetri (72), Lallianzuala Chhangte (45), and Bipin Singh (27). Manvir has struck five times and assisted thrice in the current campaign.

•⁠ ⁠Dimitrios Petratos and Jerry Mawihmingthanga have each recorded 17 assists for their respective clubs in the ISL, with only Brandon Fernandes (25), Adrian Luna (23), and Edu Bedia (18) making more for a single team.

•⁠  ⁠Mariners’ Jamie Maclaren has netted six match-winning goals in ISL 2024-25, the most by any player. The team has won all eight games in which he has scored in this edition.

ISL Fantasy

Subhasish Bose (5.2cr)

The MBSG star has won the most ISL fantasy points in his team (181) this season

Mourtada Fall (4.9cr)

The Odisha FC player has bagged the highest ISL fantasy points (121) in his side this season

The Indian Super League will be streamed live on JioHotstar (English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam) and telecast live on Star Sports – 3 (English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam), Asianet Plus (Malayalam).

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