FC Goa coach Zico must be getting tired of looking at the Indian Super League trophy from afar - a semi-final defeat to eventual champions Atletico de Kolkata in the first year, followed by a heart-breaking final loss to Marco Materazzi's Chennaiyin in ISL 2015, when they were leading 2-1 with four minutes to go, only for Chennaiyin to win the title with two injury time goals.
Unfortunately for Zico, Goa's doctors have their hands full at the moment with Robin Singh, Gregory Arnolin, Subhashish Roy Chowdhury and Denzil Franco are all sidelined for their opening clash with injuries.
Reinaldo, last season's club top scorer with seven goals, has been retained and will be expected to lead the line alongside Rafael Coelho. Zico could opt for his favoured 3-5-2 formation with Mandar Rao Desai and Romeo Fernandes expected to start as wing-backs.
Marquee Lucio comes back for another season and the 38-year-old Champions League and World Cup-winning defender is expected to slot into the centre of the three-man defence with Rafael Dumas and Keenan Almeida to either side of him. Laxmikant Kattimani will almost certainly start in goal for the visitors.
Their opponents, NorthEast United play their second home game in four days and Nelo Vingada will be delighted if his team follow their 1-0 opening day victory over Kerala Blasters with another victory at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Guwahati.
NorthEast's goalscorer on the day, Katsumi Yusa will feature in midfield and so will Rowlin Borges, despite picking up a yellow card on the first day. Their marquee player, Didier Zokora, was not fit to start the first match but may get the nod in this tie as Vingada may choose to rotate his squad.
Argentine Nico Velez showed on the first day that he could be just as effective this season as he was last season, and will be the main attacking threat to Goa's goal. Subrata Paul had a poor game against Kerala despite the clean sheet and the duo of Mailson Alves and Gustavo Lacazetti will look to sit deep and protect the defence.
Match Facts
Venue: Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati
Capacity: 35,000
Time: 7 pm IST.
Last meeting: FC Goa 1-1 NorthEast United, November 25, 2015, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, Goa
Head-to-head: Matches played: 4. NorthEast wins: 0, Goa wins: 2, Draws: 2
Key Battles
Reinaldo vs Subrata Paul: The NorthEast custodian wasn't the most confident of stoppers in the first game as Paul spilled a few routine balls, and it seemed like he lacked communication with this defenders.
The 37-year old Brazilian Reinaldo was one of the most effective strikers in the league last season and has a powerful shot on him. At six feet two inches, Reinaldo is one of the biggest strikers in the ISL and comes with an aerial threat. Any lapses by Paul may be punished severely.
Richarlyson vs Nico Velez: Thirty-three year Richarlyson Barbosa or simply Richarlyson is the latest of Goa's Brazilian inputs and will sit deepest in the midfield, screening the defence while looking to start attacks for the likes of Jofre and Reinaldo.
Velez's stock just keeps rising as he provided the assist for Yusa's goal in the opening game and his dribbling was a constant source of pain to the Kerala defenders who were unable to handle him. The likes of Lucio might struggle to keep up with his pace, and thus it is important Richarlyson keep the Argentine quiet.
Squads
NorthEast United FC: Subrata Paul, TP Rehenesh, Wellington Gomes, Salam Ranjan Singh, Nirmal Chettri, Shouvik Ghosh, Robin Gurung, Reagan Singh, Mailson Alves, Gustavo Lazzaretti, Didier Zokora, Fanai Lalrempuia, Holicharan Narzary, Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Katsumi Yusa, Koffi Christian N’dri, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Rowllin Borges, Seityasen Singh, Wellington Priori, Romaric, Emiliano Alfaro, Nicolas Velez, Sasha Aneff, Robert Cullen, Sumeet Passi
FC Goa: Laxmikanth Kattimani, Subhasish Roy Chowdhury, Sukhdev Patil, Lucio, Debabrata Roy, Denzil Franco, Fulganco Cardozo, Gregory Arnolin, Keenan Almeida, Luciano Sobrosa, Rafael Dumas, Raju Gaikwad, Sanjay Balmuchu, Joffre, Mandar Rao Dessai, Pratesh Shirodkar, Richarlyson, Romeo Fernandes, Sahil Tavora, Trindade Goncalves, Julio Cesar, Rafael Coelho, Reinaldo, Robin Singh
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