Odisha FC returns to Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 motion with the faceoff towards Hyderabad FC on the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on December 17, Sunday. The Juggernauts defeated the Basundhara Kings FC of their earlier sport by 1-0 to make it to the knockouts of the AFC Cup, and the Sergio Lobera-coached facet will likely be keen to hold the spectacular type from that competitors into the ISL, the place they’re unbeaten with a few attracts and wins every of their final 4 video games.
The workforce did take their very own candy time to search out their rhythm and type below Lobera, however they’ve been on a roll ever since, working over opponents with the trademark type and blueprint that the Spaniard symbolises.
They will likely be regretting letting go off all three factors within the earlier sport on the residence of the Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG), after taking a two-objective lead, due to a brace by Ahmed Jahouh earlier than Armando Sadiku struck again with twin objectives to make sure that the groups settled for some extent every from the encounter.
Up towards them is a Hyderabad FC facet nonetheless looking for their opening win of the season. They drew 1-1 towards NorthEast United FC within the earlier sport, and that was preceded by losses to Kerala Blasters FC and the Mariners. Much like Jamshedpur FC, Hyderabad FC haven’t misplaced video games by huge margins. However, their lack of precision and effectivity going ahead has value them many factors. They must elevate their efficiency ranges throughout all parameters by a big measure to provide a toe-to-toe contest to an in-type Odisha FC unit within the latter’s yard.
What’s at stake?
Odisha FC
Odisha FC are six factors off league leaders FC Goa, who’re at 20 factors from eight video games, with each the groups having performed an equal variety of matches. Their success on the continental facet apart, Lobera will likely be eyeing inching nearer to the Gaurs to mount a severe problem for the home titles too.
It is one thing that the Spaniard has excelled at previously, successful the Super Cup with FC Goa, almost main them to the League Winners Shield in 2019-20 earlier than being relieved of duties simply earlier than they might carry the honours, after which lastly ending the honours by doing the home double with Mumbai City FC in 2020-21. However, in these instances, his groups had been sniffing the highest of the desk proper from the offset of the marketing campaign.
Here, they’re positioned fifth after eight video games and although the hole between them and the Gaurs will be bridged, it’s nonetheless a job that requires them to keep away from any additional slip-ups. There are sure video games {that a} workforce can merely not afford to drop factors from at such junctures of the season, and this encounter towards the struggling Hyderabad FC is one in every of them.
Defensive solidity is a trademark of any Lobera-coached facet, but the 9 objectives that they’ve leaked within the second half of their video games this marketing campaign means that the workforce must do some work to carry on to the leads that they’re garnering. Fixing this challenge can lead to them delivering extra constant leads to the highest-tier too.
Hyderabad FC
With 4 attracts and 5 losses, Hyderabad FC have kicked off this transitional season on an unlucky observe. However, 13 video games are a protracted sufficient time to spark a turnaround, and therefore Thangboi Singto ought to proceed to encourage his gamers to maintain taking optimistic steps to assist them take regular strikes increased up the desk.
Firstly, a win can get the facet going, reinvigorate their spirits, and inspire them to place in higher outings on a sport-to-sport foundation. When issues seem like difficult, the best option to unravel them is to simplify the method and give attention to ticking the small packing containers. Not wanting too far forward, Hyderabad FC ought to try to establish the loopholes within the Odisha FC system and redirect their energies in exploiting that to the very best of their talents.
One of them is the tendency of the Juggernauts to lose management of the sport after getting a foot ahead, and therefore Singto can maybe take a look at some impactful Super Subs to do the job for him. He wants to make sure that his workforce doesn’t take their foot off the pedal particularly within the final half-hour, with their artistic gamers like Mohammad Yasir and Joe Knowles doubtlessly discovering alternative ways of getting by way of the Odisha FC defensive unit.
Key Players
Amey Ranawade (Odisha FC)
The fullback has been an influential addition to the Odisha FC roster this season. His profession had taken nice leaps when Lobera most well-liked him to do the best-again duties for the Islanders within the 2020-21 marketing campaign. Having introduced him to Bhubaneswar, the coach has handed him appearances in all of their ISL video games and the participant has repaid that religion with some large outputs on each the defensive and offensive fronts.
He averages two interceptions, three tackles, and 1.3 clearances per sport, together with a median of 28 passes with 78% accuracy. Ranawade has chipped in with a objective and an help every and creates a objective-scoring alternative each two video games. His tenacity on the again coupled with a way of unpredictability upfront makes him a prospect to be careful for on this fixture.
Mohammad Yasir (Hyderabad FC)
The attacking midfielder possesses all of the solutions to the objective-scoring woes of Hyderabad FC. The lack of ruthlessness of their forwards has maybe starved him of displaying up higher numbers in his assists tally on this marketing campaign. Mohammad Yasir is somebody who has nice ft, eye for a decisive go, and likewise a knack of developing with the products in entrance of the objective at any time when required. He can set the tempo of the proceedings with a collection of passing sequences with different teammates that may beat the opposition in the course of the park.
He is aware of the best moments to take the ball ahead, whether or not it comes by way of piercing the backline with by way of balls or progressive passes in direction of the fullbacks and wingers on the flanks. His first contact helps him deliver down and management lengthy balls from the defensive position and a strong shot tends to all the time hold the opposition switched on at any time when he takes over the ball in promising positions. All these aspects must be sufficient for Hyderabad FC to supply higher outcomes on the attacking facet of the sport.
Head-to-Head
Played – 8
Odisha FC – 3
Hyderabad FC – 4
Draw – 1
Trivia: With 4 factors in 9 matches, that is Hyderabad FC’s lowest ever tally at this juncture in any ISL season.
Team Talk
“I am happy because the game’s working really well, and I am very proud of my players. They are very good professionals, they are improving every day,” Odisha FC head coach Sergio Lobera remarked forward of the sport.
“I give a big salute to the players and to the staff. On the training pitch, everyone has been giving their best in terms of what we want to do as a team, in terms of preparation, in terms of what we have to achieve in going forward, because lingering in the last position of the league is not at all what you want,” Hyderabad FC head coach Thangboi Singto mentioned.
