FC Goa vs Bengaluru: This weekend, FC Goa will face Bengaluru FC in an exciting Indian Super League clash at Fatorda Stadium, Margao. FC Goa is 10th in the league while Bengaluru is 1st.

Head-to-Head

FC Goa and Bengaluru FC have faced each other 16 times over the past seven years.

• FC Goa Wins: 5
• Draws: 4
• Bengaluru FC Wins: 7

Last 5 Meetings

1. 14 Mar 2024 – FC Goa 2-1 Bengaluru (Super League)
2. 17 Jan 2024 – FC Goa 1-0 Bengaluru (Super Cup)
3. 25 Oct 2023 – Bengaluru 0-0 FC Goa (Super League)
4. 23 Feb 2023 – Bengaluru 3-1 FC Goa (Super League)
5. 26 Nov 2022 – FC Goa 0-2 Bengaluru (Super League)

Form Guide

• FC Goa: D, W, D, L, D
• Bengaluru FC: W, W, D, W, W

Bengaluru has enjoyed a better form streak recently, unbeaten in their last six games, while FC Goa has struggled to secure consistent wins.

Possible Lineups

• FC Goa (4-2-3-1):
  Goalkeeper: Laxmikant Kattimani
  Defense: Jay Gupta, Odei Onaindia, Boris Singh, Borja Herrera Gonzalez
  Midfield: Carl McHugh, Rowllin Borges, Brison Fernandes
  Attack: Udanta Singh, Dejan Drazic, Sangwan Akash
• Bengaluru FC (4-4-2):
  Goalkeeper: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu
  Defense: Nikhil Poojary, Aleksandar Jovanovic, Rahul Bheke, Vinith Venkatesh
  Midfield: Pedro Luis Capo, Alberto Noguera, Suresh Wangjam, Naorem Roshan Singh
  Attack: Sunil Chhetri, Jorge Pereyra Diaz

Key Players

• FC Goa: Dejan Drazic (playmaker), Udanta Singh (winger), Laxmikant Kattimani (goalkeeper)
• Bengaluru FC: Sunil Chhetri (striker), Naorem Roshan Singh (midfield), Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (goalkeeper)

Seven Key Stats

1. Common Scoreline: The most frequent result is 2-1, seen in three of their clashes.
2. Home Advantage: FC Goa has won 3 of their 7 home encounters against Bengaluru, with 2 draws and 2 losses.
3. Scoring Windows: FC Goa tends to score 27% of their goals between 31-45 minutes, while Bengaluru scores 27% between 0-15 minutes.
4. Recent Form: Bengaluru has been undefeated in their last six games, while FC Goa is winless in their previous four home matches.
5. Goal Trends: FC Goa has scored at least once in nine consecutive games but has also conceded in their last 14.
6. Home and Away Performance: FC Goa’s home record this season is 0-1-2, whereas Bengaluru has been solid away.
7. Goals Per Game: The average goals per game in their meetings is 2, with a first-half average of 1.

SWOT Analysis for FC Goa vs Bengaluru

FC Goa

Strengths

1. High First-Half Win Rate: FC Goa has shown strength in starting strong, winning the first half in 42% of their matches. They often establish an early lead, which they tend to protect.
2. Effective Home Scoring: Although their current home record is less than ideal, historically, FC Goa scores 1.7 goals on average when playing at home, which gives them an edge when utilizing their home-ground advantage.
3. Consistent Scoring: FC Goa has scored in each of their last nine games, highlighting their ability to find the back of the net regularly, regardless of opponent.
4. Increased Goal Rate Before Half-Time: They score 27% of their goals in the 31-45 minute period, which could give them a psychological and numerical edge heading into the second half.

Weaknesses

1. Recent Home Struggles: Despite being traditionally strong at home, they have been unable to win in their last four home matches, which could impact their morale.
2. Defensive Concerns: FC Goa has conceded in each of their last 14 games, pointing to vulnerabilities in their defense that opponents can exploit.
3. Home Form This Season: Their home record this season stands at 0-1-2, indicating a struggle to leverage their home advantage effectively.

Opportunities

1. Capitalizing on Early Leads: FC Goa has an 80% win rate when leading 1-0 at home, which presents an opportunity to secure matches early if they can maintain this trend.
2. Recent Win Against Bengaluru: Their 2-1 victory over Bengaluru in their last meeting could boost confidence, especially given their performance against a team with strong current form.
3. Focus on Consistent Attack: With a track record of consistent scoring, they can exploit Bengaluru’s moments of defensive lapses, especially in the first half.

Threats

1. Bengaluru’s Strong Recent Form: Bengaluru FC is unbeaten in their last six games, a run that could intimidate FC Goa, especially given their own defensive inconsistencies.
2. Inability to Keep Clean Sheets: FC Goa’s ongoing streak of conceding in 14 consecutive games makes them vulnerable, particularly against Bengaluru’s efficient attacking line.
3. Pressure to Improve Home Performance: With their underwhelming home record, they face pressure to perform well, which may lead to hasty decision-making.

Bengaluru FC

Strengths

1. Solid Current Form: Bengaluru has an impressive unbeaten streak, with four wins and one draw in their last five matches, which keeps them in high spirits and solidifies their confidence.
2. High Early Scoring Rate: They score 27% of their goals between the 0-15 minute mark, often surprising opponents and establishing early control.
3. Consistent Defense: With an effective defensive structure, Bengaluru tends to keep opponents at bay, reflected in their six-match unbeaten streak.
4. Better Performance Record: Historically, Bengaluru has outperformed FC Goa in head-to-head matchups, which gives them psychological leverage.

Weaknesses

1. Lower First-Half Win Rate: Bengaluru wins 32% of their first halves, compared to Goa’s 42%, suggesting a slower build-up in early game phases.
2. Poor Away Comebacks: Bengaluru has a 0% win rate when trailing 1-0 away, which points to difficulty in overcoming away deficits.
3. Less Productive in Front of Goal Against Goa: On average, Bengaluru scores just 1.2 goals per match against Goa, indicating that Goa’s defense has a strategy to limit Bengaluru’s scoring effectiveness.

Opportunities

1. Take Advantage of FC Goa’s Defensive Issues: Given FC Goa’s defensive inconsistency, Bengaluru has a strong opportunity to score early and control the game.
2. Utilize Away Form: Bengaluru scores an average of 1 goal away from home, and if they can maintain this while tightening their defense, they can gain an advantage over FC Goa.
3. Leverage Superior Head-to-Head Record: With a slight edge in their historical head-to-head performance, Bengaluru can use their familiarity and previous strategies against Goa to maintain control.

Threats

1. Goa’s Resilience When Leading: FC Goa has an impressive track record of securing wins when leading at home, which may make it difficult for Bengaluru to come back if Goa gains an early lead.
2. Goa’s Strong Attack and Goal Streak: With Goa scoring in nine consecutive matches, Bengaluru’s defense may face pressure, especially from FC Goa’s aggressive first-half play.
3. High Draw Likelihood: The two teams have ended matches in a draw in four of their last seven meetings, and this stalemate trend might persist, which would not favor Bengaluru in their chase for top-table dominance.

FC Goa vs Bengaluru Prediction

Given Bengaluru’s stronger recent form and solid defense, a balanced game is anticipated. FC Goa has home advantage, yet Bengaluru’s consistency may help them secure a result.

Prediction: FC Goa 1-2 Bengaluru

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