ISL 2024-25: East Bengal faces the Odisha FC challenge as it aims for third successive win
East Bengal FC will be looking to extend its newfound form when it meets Odisha FC in a match week 12 of the Indian Super League 11 at its home here at the Salt Lake Stadium on Thursday.
After suffering six successive losses since the start, East Bengal picked up momentum under its new coach Oscar Bruzon and has remained unbeaten in its last three outings.
The team picked up its first point in its seventh outing with a draw against city rival Mohammedan Sporting and then won the next two matches – against NorthEast United (1-0 at home) and Chennaiyin FC (2-0, away) – to continue its resurgence.
Currently placed 11th in a 13-team League table with seven points from seven points from nine matches, East Bengal will be meeting one of its toughest opponents in the form of Odisha FC as it aims for its third consecutive win.
This will be an unprecedented feat for the red-and-gold brigade, which always finished low in the bottom half ever since it joined the ISL in 2020. Odisha FC, which currently occupies the fifth spot in the table (16 from 11), has remained unbeaten in its last four matches while picking up two convincing wins and as many draws.
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The Juggernauts, coached by Sergio Lobera, will be eager to pick up more as it tries to climb up the table before the tournament reaches its halfway mark.
An assessment of Odisha FC’s formidability can be made from the fact that it has scored 23 goals thus far, which is the most that any team has managed after 11 games in any season. It has found the target every 43 minutes, which is the fastest by any team in the current season.
Brazilian forward Diego Mauricio and Senegalese defender Mourtada Fall lead the scoring charts for Odisha them by netting seven and four times respectively. This will give Lobera the hope that his team regains the winning touch after playing a goalless draw against Mumbai City in its previous outing.
“East Bengal FC is a very competitive team. They are working well and improving not just football wise but also in terms of their mental motivation. It will be a very difficult game,” Lobera said, looking at the current form of his next opponent.
What may be bothering Lobera is East Bengal FC’s recent improvement in its defensive strength. This will be the factor that will be put to test in this match as Odisha FC tries to find the fifth win of the tournament. East Bengal coach Bruzon said that the team’s recent run of form is admirable but it still needs to work a lot to realise its objective of qualifying to the knockout stage.
“The players are positive. We are not conceding too many chances. We are a team that is on a good run of results. But, we are still far off from where we want to be in the league table,” Bruzon said.
