Mumbai City FC will hope to set their records straight against Punjab FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 tonight. Having suffered a 3-0 loss against Punjab FC in November, the reigning champions Mumbai City FC kept on a four-match-long streak of clean sheets. However, after giving away two plus goals in each of their last three games, the Islanders will want to take a relook at their organisation in the back. They will be buoyed by the fact that Punjab FC have netted only twice in their last three games, who on the other hand will hope to register their first league double of the season over the Islanders.

Mumbai City FC, currently placed sixth with 23 points from 15 games, will seek to instill some consistency in their form after losing twice in their last five games (W3 D2) and two back-to-back wins on the road. However, the Islanders have conceded multiple goals in each of their last three games, leaking eight goals in the process, which is a defensive fragility they will aim to address.

The fact that Nikolaos Karelis, their top scorer this season with eight goals, is two away from becoming the fifth player in club history to score 10+ goals in a single ISL season.

Punjab FC, currently struggling with form, have lost their last two home games in the league, including a 0-1 defeat to Kerala Blasters FC earlier this year are placed ninth in the table with 19 points from 14 matches. Another loss will mark their longest home losing streak in ISL history, and failing to score will see them go goalless in back-to-back home games for the first time.

They however will take solace from the fact that their striker  Luka Majcen, who contributed a goal and an assist in the previous fixture against Mumbai City. The Slovenian striker has three goal contributions (2 goals, 1 assist) against Mumbai City FC, the joint-most against any opponent.

Both teams have to play without their key players. Mumbai City captain Lallianzuala Chhangte is suspended for the upcoming game following his second booking of the season, the latest against NorthEast United. Punjab FC will have Nikhil Prabhu and Khaiminthang Lhungdim sit out due to suspensions.

Head to Head in the three matches between these two teams, Punjab FC and Mumbai City FC have won once and twice respectively. An average of 3.67 goals is scored per game in this fixture

Mumbai City FC Head Coach Petr Kratky will be staying cautious of Punjab FC’s tendencies to hit the opponents on the counter and in a pre match press conference said, “If you look at Punjab FC, they create good chances. They will want to come back from their not so good recent results. They know what they have to do, as they counter-attacked very well against us in the reverse fixture”.

Punjab FC  Assistant Coach Sankarlal Chakraborty admitted that his team’s defensive concerns are because of certain aspects lacking in their gameplay during some phases of the match.  “Before the match against NorthEast United FC, we analysed that we didn’t do well in some phases and hence we were conceding goals. We started the second half against NorthEast very well and we will sit and analyse and regroup (in this regard),” he said

With related to key players & milestones between the two outfits,  Mumbai City FC’s Greek striker Karelis is two goals away from reaching double figures in his debut ISL season, potentially becoming the joint second-fastest to achieve the feat for the Islanders, matching Jorge Pereyra Diaz’s record of doing so in 16 games

On the other hand Punjab FC’s Ezequiel Vidal has had an impactful maiden ISL season, scoring four goals and assisting twice in 13 appearances. He has made 12 successful dribbles, created 22 goal-scoring chances, won 57 duels, made 65 recoveries, and notched a 15.38% goal conversion rate.

With two goals, Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) graduate Nathan Rodrigues is Mumbai City FC’s joint-second highest scorer this season. He has made one assist, 18 clearances, won 14 tackles, emerged victorious in 44 duels, rounded off 49 recoveries, and attempted 32 passes per game at 86% accuracy.

Photo Above: Mumbai City FC needs to showcase greater efficiency from their frontline and defence alike if they harbor any chance of making it to the knock-out stage of ISL 2024-25