Mumbai City FC’s second clash of Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2020-21 against FC Goa at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim on Monday promises to be an exciting encounter with plenty of attacking talent on display on both sides. The last time these two sides met earlier in the campaign, a late Mumbai City goal by Adam le Fondre was enough to give the Islanders a win but a lot has happened since then and it will be interesting to see who emerges on top on Monday. Here, we assess some of the talking points that will be on show when these two teams clash for a second time in Hero ISL 2020-21.

A clash of two possession-based outfits

When Mumbai City face Goa, it will be a face-off between two sides that love to be in possession of the ball. FC Goa average 59% possession – the most by a team in the league – and Mumbai City average 56%, which is the second most. Passing and quick movement of the ball is also a big part of both clubs’ philosophy and along with goal-scoring, that’s where the Islanders have done better than the Gaurs. Mumbai City have a passing accuracy of 75.71 – the best by a team in the league – while Goa are second with a passing accuracy of 74.04. The side which keeps the ball better and passes it around seamlessly is more likely to emerge triumphant on Monday.

Battle between two top frontmen

The match will also pit two quality forwards against each other. Igor Angulo is Goa’s leading goal-scorer this season with 10 goals, while le Fondre, who scored against the Gaurs earlier this campaign, is Mumbai City’s top goal-getter with eight strikes so far. Angulo’s minutes per goal ratio of 109.2 is the best by a player, while le Fondre’s minutes per goal ratio of 120.38 is the second best behind the Spaniard himself. One metric in which le Fondre is ahead of Angulo though is his goal conversion rate of 25.80 that’s the best by a player in the league with more than three goals. By comparison, Angulo’s goal conversion of 25.64 is the second best.

Game could be decided during set-pieces

Set-pieces could have a major bearing on the outcome of the game considering it is one of Mumbai City’s strengths besides also being a weakness for Goa. Mumbai have scored 13 goals from set-pieces, while the Gaurs have conceded 12 goals from such situations. The Islanders, in fact, have scored 59.09% of their goals from set-pieces, whereas Goa have conceded 66.67% of their goals from these situations. Monday’s game has a high probability of the outcome being decided from set-pieces, making it imperative that both teams remain switched on from such situations.