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Odisha vs Hyderabad Preview: Odisha to make winning start in Indian Super League

By Moti Prakash

Moti Prakash

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Odisha host Hyderabad in their opening Indian Super League game
Both sides missed the ISL play-offs last season
Odisha won both games against Hyderabad last season
Odisha have seen over 2.5 goals in their last 6 matches
Hyderabad have seen BTTS Yes in 10 of their last 11 matches

(Getty Images)

Odisha and Hyderabad begin their 2020/21 Indian Super League seasons when they clash at GMC Stadium in Bambolim on Monday. Both sides missed out on the play-offs last season after finishing sixth and seventh respectively.

Odisha Form

Odisha ended last year's Indian Super League season in sixth spot with a record of seven wins, seven defeats and four draws. They missed out on the play-offs by four points.

Coach Josep Gombau has left the club and been replaced by Stuart Baxter, who brings more than 35 years of management experience to the club.

Odisha ended last season on a positive note with four points from their last two games. They were 2-1 winners over NorthEast United before signing off with an entertaining 4-4 draw with Kerala Blasters.

Odisha Team News

Odisha have had a clear-out of their overseas imports from the start of last season Martín Pérez Guedes, Diawandou Diagne, Carlos Delgado, Francisco Dorronsoro, Xisco Hernández and Marcos Tébar all leaving. Only Spanish forward Manuel Onwu remains from last season.

Baxter has brought in Brazilian forwards Diego Maurício and Marcelinho, former Newcastle defender Steven Taylor and Jacob Tratt from Australia's A-League, and South African international midfielder Cole Alexander.

Hyderabad Form

Hyderabad ended a sorry season on a high note when they thumped NorthEast United 5-1 in their final game of the season. Marcelinho scored twice in the victory.

That victory ended a 14-game winless run which had seen Hyderabad's play-off hopes dashed. They lost 10 of those games during a miserable run of form.

Having sacked coach Phil Brown during last season's Indian Super League, Hyderabad have replaced him with Manuel Roca ahead of this year's ISL.

Hyderabad Team News

Hyderabad have lost Marcelinho to Odisha, and fellow imports Bobo, Marko Stanković, Matthew Kilgallon, Giles Barnes, Rafael Gómez and Néstor Gordillo have also departed.

Incoming are Spanish defender Odei Onaindia, Brazilian midfielder João Victor, Spanish playmaker Lluís Sastre, Spanish forwards Aridane Santana and Fran Sandaza and Australian striker Joel Chianese.

Odisha vs Hyderabad Head to Head

In what what their first season since replacing Delhi Dynamos, Odisha won both games against Hyderabad last season. A 3-2 victory in this match was followed by a 2-1 win on the road.

Odisha vs Hyderabad Stats

Odisha have won 5 of their last 9 matches (Indian Super League).
Odisha have seen BTTS Yes in their last 4 matches (Indian Super League).
Odisha have seen over 2.5 goals in their last 6 matches (Indian Super League).
Odisha won both games against Hyderabad last season (Indian Super League).
Hyderabad have seen BTTS Yes in 10 of their last 11 matches (Indian Super League).

Prediction

Odisha had the measure of Hyderabad last season. They have strengthened their goalscoring options with the capture of Hyderabad forward Marcelinho, and should be too good.