The final matchweek before the January AFC Asian Cup break is an opportunity for Indian Super League (ISL) Fantasy managers to launch an upward surge in the rankings and place themselves in a good position before the second half of the season.

Matchweek 12 is a mix of a black and a double gameweek as East Bengal FC, Bengaluru FC and Hyderabad FC will not be in action, while Odisha FC will play two matches.

While there is an opportunity for ISL Fantasy managers to profit from owning Odisha FC players, there would be some navigating to do to cope with the absence of players from the three missing teams.

Matchweek 11 Summary

With 18 goals scored, it was a matchweek for the forwards and midfielders with five forwards and four midfielders making the top ten points scorers in MW11.

Jamshedpur FC’s hat-trick hero Daniel Chima Chukwu top scored with 14 points with Mumbai City FC’s Bipin Singh and FC Goa’s Noah Sadaoui delivering 11 points each.

Punjab FC’s Khaimin Lhungdim was the only defender among the top ten with nine points.

Matchweek 12: What to expect?

Odisha FC are the team to focus on in MW12 as they face Punjab FC and Jamshedpur FC in MW12. Their good form coupled with the struggles of their opponents makes their players compelling options for MW 12 with a triple-up on the Odisha FC players becoming a very rational choice.

FC Goa’s attack might just have come to life in Kolkata and it might be a good time to bank on them as they travel to NorthEast United FC who are winless in six in the ISL.

Mumbai City FC who are very storing at home should also attract some attention as they go up against an inconsistent Chennaiyin FC team.

The headline fixture between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Kerala Blasters FC is a tricky one for ISL Fantasy managers with there being uncertainty over the way the game could pan out.

𝐆𝐎𝐀𝐋 𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐓, 𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐖 𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 & 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒 🤩💥

MATCHWEEK 11 had it all, now it's time to buckle up for the FINAL MATCHWEEK of 2023! 🌟⚽#ISL #ISL10 #LetsFootball #ISLonJioCinema #ISLonSports18 | @Sports18 @eastbengal_fc @RGPunjabFC @JioCinema pic.twitter.com/zldQQaiHXj

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) December 25, 2023

What the managers thinking?

Most Transfer IN players ahead of MW12

Player	Club	Position	No of Transfers IN
Ahmed Jahouh	Odisha FC	Midfielder	317
Dimitri Diamantakos	Kerala Blasters FC	Forward	275
Mourtada Fall	Odisha FC	Defender	234
Noah Sadaoui	FC Goa	Midfielder	230
Javi Hernandez	Bengaluru FC	Midfielder	221

(As of December 25, 2023, 6:30 PM IST)

Most Transfer OUT players ahead of MW12

Player	Club	Position	No of Transfers IN
Adrian Luna	Kerala Blasters FC	Midfielder	690
Akash Mishra	Mumbai City FC	Forward	233
Cleiton Silva	East Bengal FC	Defender	179
Sahal Abdul Samad	Mohun Bagan SG	Midfielder	179
Javi Hernandez	Bengaluru FC	Midfielder	147

(As of December 25, 2023, 6:30 PM IST)

Top Picks for Matchweek 12

Mourtada Fall (Odisha FC): The Odisha FC defender has cemented his place in the team with contributions at both ends of the pitch. The Kalinga Warriors have kept clean sheets in four out of the last five ISL matches and face teams that aren’t the most prolific. Fall is a massive goal threat and has already scored four goals for the team in all competitions this season.

Noah Sadaoui (FC Goa): The FC Goa forward netted twice in the last matchweek and has been threatening to haul big for a long time. He is top in the league for shots and touches in the opponent penalty area and the goals against Mohun Bagan Super Giant could just open the floodgates for the Moroccan.

Dimitri Diamantakos (Kerala Blasters FC): The Kerala Blasters FC frontman is the league’s top scorer and is enjoying a purple patch in front of the goal. He has scored in three of the Blasters’ last four league matches and is also on penalty duties. He would be relishing the prospect of going up against a Mohun Bagan Super Giant side that have suffered back-to-back defeats and have conceded six goals in the process.

Top differential picks for Matchweek 12

Roy Krishna (Odisha FC): With Odisha FC having a double gameweek and Diego Mauricio suspended for the next game, Krishna is a great pick for MW12 with the Fijian also in a rich vein of form. With just 7% ownership, Krishna could be your tool to climb up the rankings in MW12.

Daniel Chima Chukwu (Jamshedpur FC): Daniel Chima Chukwu has quietly helped himself into form and exploded in MW11 with a fine hat-trick. He is a streaky player and is very difficult to stop when on song. With five goals to his name and an established pedigree in the ISL, he is a steal at a price of 5.7 crore and with just 2% ownership.

Captaincy Pick: Mourtada Fall

A defender rarely makes this category but Fall is such a consistent goalscorer that he is the best choice for captaincy in MW12 with Odisha FC have a pretty good chance of keeping a clean sheet.

Create your own ISL Fantasy team as well if you haven’t already

To mark its 10th season, ISL introduced ‘ISL Fantasy,’ a classic fantasy format game. Fans can participate in the overall league or club-based leagues based on their preferences. They can create private leagues, inviting friends and fellow football aficionados to compete. Prizes include a Sony PlayStation®️5 gaming console, EA Sports FC 24, signed club merchandise, and a Gift Card worth INR 20,000, which will be awarded to 100 winners at the end of the season. Sign up at: https://fantasy.indiansuperleague.com/