Kolkata: Mohun Bagan Super Giant can climb to the second spot on the ISL table when they take on Jamshedpur FC at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Friday. All they need is a win, something not beyond them, given that they are playing at home.
Bagan are just two points adrift of second-placed Mumbai City, who have played a game more.
But then, Jamshedpur under Khalid Jamil may not prove to be easy opponents.Although way behind at the seventh spot, Jamshedpur are unbeaten in their last five matches, same as Mohun Bagan. Both have somewhat similar records in these five games, having won three and drawn two.
However, Bagan will also have the opportunity to score a double over Jamshedpur, whom they have never beaten in consecutive matches. The two teams have a 3-3 head-to-head record in the ISL.
“We respect our opponents and are preparing well for the next match. The most important thing in this game will be to ensure that we do not concede goals from set-pieces,” Mohun Bagan head coach Antonio Lopez Habas said on the eve of the match.
His counterpart too sounded confident. “We have very good players with us, who are willing to work hard, which is very good for us,” Jamil said.
Incidentally, Jamshedpur have remained unbeaten since Jamil took charge. Bagan will surely try to change that.
With Armando Sadiku, Jason Cummings, and Dimitrios Petratos up front, Bagan would be looking to attack from the very beginning. However, it will be their talented midfielders Sahal Abdul Samad and Manvir Singh who will hold the key.
For Jamshedpur, Frenchman Jeremy Manzorro will be the key man around whom, they would be looking to build their game.