Preview: Mumbai City FC Eye Back-to-back Wins Against In-form Odisha FC

A highly anticipated showdown awaits at the Mumbai Football Arena on October 27 as Mumbai City FC takes on Odisha FC at 7:30 pm IST. The game will mark the return of former Islanders’ head coach Sergio Lobera to familiar territory, this time at the helm of Odisha FC. Lobera, who led Mumbai City FC to a historic double in the 2020-21 season, remains cherished by the West Coast Brigade, promising an emotional return for the Spaniard.

Both teams will be looking to secure a critical win, as Odisha FC seeks to break their away game losing streak and Mumbai City FC aims to improve their start to the season.

Mumbai City FC’s overwhelming run against Odisha FC

·Goal-Scoring Spree: Mumbai City FC has demonstrated scoring prowess against Odisha FC, netting at least twice in each of their last eight encounters with the Juggernauts. Currently, on a five-match unbeaten streak against Odisha FC, the Islanders will look to extend their offensive dominance, driven by the support of the West Coast Brigade.

·Final Third Numbers: The Petr Kratky-coached side interlinks brilliantly in their offensive unit, with their forwards shaping seamlessly to the coach’s demands of them. In the current campaign, the team has averaged 65.3 final third entries per game, which is the second-highest such aggregate by any team in the league behind FC Goa (68.6). It demonstrates that they have developed a knack for regularly inflicting pressure on the opposition’s backline, but they will want to convert more of these chances into goals going forward.

Odisha FC’s defensive dilemma

·Need For a Better Away Streak? Odisha FC would want to improve upon the fact that they have conceded 2+ goals in each of their last four matches on the road. Lobera will insist on greater defensive discipline from his players especially when they are travelling, and given Mumbai City FC’s constant appliance of pressure in the final third, the visitors need to be wary of giving Kratky’s side too much space to work around with as well.

·Ruthless From Set Pieces: Regardless of the aforementioned concerns, Odisha FC has been extremely efficient from set pieces during the offence. 56% of their goals this season have come from set-pieces and the overall count (5) is just one behind Mohun Bagan Super Giant (6), who are the leaders in this metric. The duo of Ahmed Jahouh and Mourtada Fall, both of whom have previously won titles with Mumbai City FC, will be instrumental if Odisha FC are to replicate those heroics in this clash.

Head-to-Head

The two teams have played each other 10 times in the ISL. Mumbai City FC have won six games and Odisha FC have emerged victorious thrice. Only one encounter has resulted in a draw.

Coach’s Corner

“We are on the right pathway”

Mumbai City FC head coach Petr Kratky is in a pleasant mood after finally getting three points in their bag against FC Goa. He is confident that the team is on the right path and expressed happiness about the present camaraderie in their setup.

“We still need to improve a lot of football, but we are on a good pathway. The boys are together, which is very important, and fighting until the last minute. So, I'm very happy for the group, and again, it's part of the football, where we need to just go game by game, and now we have to focus on the other one,” Kratky said.

“We need to be ambitious”

Odisha FC, much like Mumbai City FC, head into this game on the back of a 2-1 win. Their triumph against East Bengal FC must have come as a sigh of relief for Sergio Lobera, but he is demanding more from his players.

“Results are important but as a coach I have to analyse. And from my analysis, I feel we need to improve. The result can't change my mentality as a coach. We need to be ambitious and we need to improve,” Lobera said.

Key Players & Milestones

·Mumbai City FC might look to unveil their trump card in Bipin Singh for this game, as the winger has recorded nine goal contributions in the fixtures against Odisha FC in the ISL. Bipin is a menace for the opposition’s backline with his piercing pace and trickery on the ball and is equally proficient in terms of converting opportunities consistently too.

· Odisha FC’s Hugo Boumous has settled quickly into the team, setting up three goals in this campaign thus far. He has recorded the highest differential (+1.81) between expected assists (1.19) and actual assists this season, operating effectively in the pocket of space behind the striker, bringing the whole frontline together with his widespread passing range and an eye for a strike.

· Odisha FC’s Mourtada Fall has won 26 out of his 32 contested duels in the present season. His duel success rate of 81.3% is the highest for any player who has battled at least 10 of them. Fall has also scored two headed goals and won 13 out of his 17 aerial duels. The home team will have to watch out for his vital contributions in the air at both ends of the field.

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