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East Bengal vs Goa Preview: Goals likely in ISL clash

By Rahul Varma

05 Jan 2021

Rahul Varma 05 Jan 2021

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East Bengal vs Goa preview for the Indian Super League fixture
East Bengal have seen over 3.5 goals in 3 of their last 4 matches
Goa have seen over 2.5 goals in their last 3 matches.
Goals are predicted at Tilak Maidan Stadium
Full match preview, predictions and team news.

East Bengal and Goa can produce goals (Getty Images)

East Bengal Form

East Bengal took time to find their feet in their debut season in the Indian Super League, but they are up and running with a first win of the campaign.

Robbie Fowler's side built on the promise of one defeat in their previous four games as they defeated bottom side Odisha 3-1 on Sunday.

First-half goals from Anthony Pilkington and Jacques Maghoma set East Bengal on their way to that historic first win.

New signing Bright Enobakhare put the seal on the win two minutes from time, before Danny Fox put through his own net for an Odisha consolation.

East Bengal lost their first three games before a first point was earned from a 0-0 draw with Jamshedpur. They also held Kerala Blasters to a 1-1 draw and Chennaiyin 2-2 during their recent upturn in fortunes.

Goa Form

Goa snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in their last game as they scored twice in the final three minutes to defeat Hyderabad 2-1.

Trailing to an Aridane goal and looking unlikely winners, Goa levelled thanks to an 87th minute Ishan Pandita strike just 60 seconds after coming on. Igor Angulo then sealed a dramatic comeback win in the first minute of added time.

The victory made it back-to-back wins for Juan Ferrando's side, who needed a 95th minute winner from Angulo - his second of the game - to defeat Jamshedpur 2-1 in their previous game.

Those two wins followed successive defeats for Goa, who lost 1-0 to ATK Mohun Bagan and 2-1 Chennaiyin. But the late victories see last season's semi-finalists sitting in third spot after nine games.

Team News

Robbie Fowler is likely to name an unchanged East Bengal side after the first win of the season. New signing Bright Enobakhare will have to wait for his first start despite his late goal on debut. Fellow forward Aaron Amadi-Holloway is also yet to start a game.

Goa midfielder Ishan Pandita will be pushing for a start after his late heroics from the bench. Spanish midfielder Alberto Noguera has been left on the bench in the last two games but could return in Juan Ferrando's rotation of his overseason contingent.

Head to Head

East Bengal and Goa last met in the Hero Super Cup in 2018, two years before the former made their Indian Super League debut. East Bengal were 1-0 winners of that cup tie with Dudu getting the only goal of the game.

East Bengal vs Goa Predictions

Both sides have seen plenty of goals in their recent matches. With East Bengal tough to beat and Goa unpredictable, we're sticking with the goals markets and both teams to score in this ISL fixture.

East Bengal got their first win in the Indian Super League last game.
East Bengal have lost 1 of their last 5 matches (Indian Super League).
East Bengal have seen BTTS in their last 4 matches (Indian Super League).
East Bengal have seen over 3.5 goals in 3 of their last 4 matches (Indian Super League).
Goa have won their last 2 matches (Indian Super League).
Goa have seen BTTS in their last 3 matches (Indian Super League).
Goa have seen over 2.5 goals in their last 3 matches (Indian Super League).