ISL 2015 match preview: Injury hit Kolkata could struggle against FC Goa in ISL’s ‘El Clasico’

Atletico faced Chennaiyin FC in the opening game of the tournament, where a brace from marquee striker, Helder Postiga, helped them open their score with a 3-2 win at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai.

However, the match ended on a sour note for Kolkata manager, Antonio Habas, as Postiga picked up an injury while scoring the second goal for his side. His services would be sorely missed by the defending champions, who will now need to find a new partner for Iain Hume.

FC Goa hosted Delhi Dynamos on the second matchday of this season, and Zico’s men put up a clinical display to grab a 2-0 win over the men from the North. The pace and movement of their attack proved to be too much for Delhi's defenders, and they will once again be the key against Atletico.

The Gaurs faced the Kolkata side in four matches last season, two of which were in the semi-finals of the competition – and they failed to register a single win. However, they will go into this game as the favourites, considering the players Atletico will miss tonight.

FC Goa Team News

Zico is unlikely to make any changes to the starting line-up, which won so comfortably against Delhi Dynamos in their first match.

Zico confirmed that Bikramjit Singh and Brazilian forward, Victor Simoes, are struggling with injuries. Pronay Halder and Narayan Das, who are away on national team duties, remain unavailable for selection as well.

Expected Starting line-up (4-3-3): Elinton Andrade (GK); Debabrata Roy, Lucio, Gregory Arnolin, Keenan Almeida; Leo Moura, Denson Devadas, Jofre; Romeo Fernandes, Reinaldo, Mandar Rao Desai

Atletico de Kolkata Team News

Antonio Habas has a lot of injury concerns to content with ahead of this fixture. Atletico’s star striker, Helder Postiga, has sustained a muscle strain from the match against Chennaiyin. The 33-year-old has flown back to Portugal to consult an expert, and is expected to be out of action for a month. Habas will replace him with former Real Madrid attacker, Valdo, who came on as a substitute and scored in the inaugural game.

The Atletico manager has also confirmed that Jewel Raja and Lalchhawnkima are out of contention for this game with injuries.

Tiri, the Spanish defender, who was signed in the summer, also remains doubtful, but Josemi could make a return to the starting line-up for this game.

Habas will also miss two key Indian players in Arnab Mondal and Rino Anto, who are currently training with the Indian national team. Arnab is likely to be replaced with Josemi at the center of the defence, while Denzil Franco comes in for Anto. Syed Rahim Nabi could also make his debut for Atletico, replacing Augustin Fernandes at left back.

Expected starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Amrinder Singh (GK); Denzil Franco, Ofentse Nato, Josemi, Syed Nabi; Borja Fernandez, Jaime Gavilan; Baljit Sahni, Iain Hume, Javi Lara; Valdo

What the managers said

When asked what he thought of the face-off in the light of Goa's poor track record against Kolkata, Goa manager, Zico said, "I think it’s a normal game [When asked whether this particular fixture meant something special]. Versus Kolkata we just lost one game out of four last time. We drew one game because of the mistake of the referee when we were leading 1-0, we controlled the first semi-final completely and we had a lot of chances in Kolkata. We should have won".

Zico also said, "For tomorrow, it is a regular game - no rivalries of any sort. We have changed a lot of our players and they have as well. We will have to be prepared. Both teams are leading at this point of time."

On the other hand, Kolkata manager, Antonio Habas was equivocal about the outcome today. He said, "I look at the match as a close affair because the difference between FC Goa and Kolkata is very less. The difference is in small data like set pieces, fouls this is my opinion. Last year both the games away and home were very similar". " I am not worried about FC Goa but in the 90 mins anything can happen," he added.

Previous meetings

23 October, 2014: FC Goa 1-2 Atletico de Kolkata (Santos 21’; Lobo 72’, 84’)

10 December, 2014: Atletico de Kolkata 1-1 FC Goa (Fikru 68’; Edgar 27’)

Prediction

FC Goa 2-1 Atletico de Kolkata

Goa, in all likelihood, will grab their first win ever against Atletico tonight. The defending champions have been considerably weakened from injuries and the absence of its Indian players playing in the WC qualifiers. Moreover, their defence looked shaky against Chennaiyin FC, and the menacing triumvirate in Goa’s attack will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing them. Expect the home team to edge the visitors in this match.