Mumbai City FC will take on NorthEast United FC in matchday 71 of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2021-22 season at the PJN Stadium in Margao, Goa.

The Islanders had their last two fixtures postponed and played their last game two weeks ago against Bengaluru FC, which concluded in a 3-0 defeat.

The Highlanders, on the other hand, ended up on the losing side against Chennaiyin FC in their last game.

With the league getting closer than ever, pressure mounts on Mumbai City FC and NorthEast United FC for the race to the top four.

Form Guide

Mumbai City FC: LDLDL

Des Buckingham’s men sit fifth in the league standings with 17 points, picking up five wins, two draws, and four losses. Currently, on a five-match winless run, a win will help them climb to second place in the table.

NorthEast United FC: DLDLL

The Highlanders are on a six-match winless run and haven’t quite found the rhythm this season, as they sit at the bottom of the league table with nine points, registering two wins, three draws, and eight losses.

Head-To-Head

The two sides have shared the field 15 times, with the Islanders having the edge with seven wins while the Highlanders winning the fixture five times. The last meeting between these two ended in an enthralling 3-3 draw in match 42 of this season.

Team News

The Highlanders will be missing their star striker Deshorn Brown, who is doubtful for the match with a hamstring injury.

Key Stats

The Highlanders plummeting points

The Highlanders have dropped 13 points from winning positions, the most by any team this season. They have dropped points from winning positions in 5 of their last 6 games. The club have conceded 13 goals in the second half of games this season, and seven in the last 15 minutes of games alone, both of which are the worst records in the category, but they do not score enough in the second half of games having scored 8 goals this season.

Mumbai City FC missing the mark?

The Islanders have conceded 13 goals in their last five matches. They have conceded three goals each in four of those games. In the six matches before the winless run started, they conceded more than two goals in a match only once. The Islanders conceded seven goals in the first six matches of the season. Their attacking form has also deserted them off late. They have failed to score in three of their last five matches.

Key Players

Mumbai City FC

Mourtada Fall: Fall’s towering presence in the backline will be essential for the Islanders to maintain a clean sheet. The defender has made 44 clearances, 17 interceptions, 16 blocks, 13 tackles and has a superb passing accuracy of 82% and has also made offensive contributions with two goals.

Igor Angulo: The forward has the most goal contributions for his side, scoring eight goals and providing two assists in 11 games. Angulo has taken the third most shots on target in the league (15).

NorthEast United FC

Marcelo Pereira: A top scorer for two different ISL clubs - now defunct - Pereira is a technically gifted player and has the ability to play on either wing as an attacking midfielder. The 34-year-old is the all-time leading Brazilian goalscorer in the Hero ISL, boasting of 33 strikes in 80 appearances.

Patrick Flottmann: The 24-year-old makes the NorthEast United FC backline complete and he is shaping up to be a crucial part of it. Flottmann has made 47 clearances, 25 blocks, 24 tackles, and 20 interceptions in 11 games. In the offensive unit, the Australian has a goal and an assist apiece.  

Match timings and telecast details

Match: Mumbai City FC vs NorthEast United FC        

Date: 25th January 2022

Venue: PJN Stadium, Margao, Goa

Kick-off time: 7.30 pm

Telecast: Star Sports Network

Online Streaming: Disney+Hotstar and JioTV.