ISL 2016: Goa and Pune search for their first win of the season

Zico's quest for a maiden title in his third ISL season did not get off to the best of starts as the Brazilian saw his FC Goa team go down 2-0 to NorthEast United in Guwahati.

Goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani will be looking to atone for his howler in the Gaurs' first match and is expected to start today. In front of Kattimani, the back four is expected to be unchanged for their first home match of this season.

Marquee player Lucio and fellow Brazilian Rafael Dumas are expected to be at the heart of the defence while Raju Gaikwad and Fulganco Cardozo should start as the wing-backs. Against NorthEast, Gaikwad made a crucial block to deny Emiliano Alfaro a hat-trick.

Goa played with a 4-4-1-1 formation before the break which reverted to a 4-2-3-1 afterwards and the latter is the one which Zico is expected to start with against Pune. Richarlyson and Matheus Trindade Goncalves will look to drive the team on from midfield, while Romeo Fernandes who came on as a substitute, should be handed a start.

Brazilian forward Rafael Coelho didn't have the best of times in the last game and last season's top scorer Reinaldo could be handed a recall. Jofre, the team's Spanish creator-in-chief will start just behind the forward with Mandar Rao Dessai to his left.

Pune will be without coach Antonio Lopez Habas, as the Spanish coach serves the second of his four game-touchline ban.

Rahul Bheke looked really uncomfortable against Matias Defederico in the 1-0 defeat to Mumbai but should retain his place on the right. The rest of the Pune defence is also expected to be unchanged as keeper Apoula Edel will still be hoping to become the only man to win the ISL title thrice.

Lenny Rodrigues was poor as he failed to provide enough cover for the back four but should retain his place next to Jonatan Lucca, one of the few Goa players to emerge with any credit from their opening match as he created a few chances for the frontmen.

Spanish forward Jesus Tato was guilty of missing a couple of gilt-edged chances but looked sharp overall and will be supported by Arata Izumi and Gustavo Oberman on either wing. Tato's fellow La Masia graduate Pitu should replace Bruno Arias after the latter's poor showing against Mumbai City.

Match Facts

Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, Goa (also known as the Fatorda Stadium)

Capacity: 19,000

Time: 7 pm IST

Last meeting: FC Pune City 2-2 FC Goa, 8th November 2015, at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium in Pune

Head-to-head: Matches: 4, NorthEast United wins: 1, Mumbai City FC wins: 1, Draws: 2

Key Battles

Mandar Rao Dessai vs Rahul Bheke: Dessai, the 24-year old left winger from Mapusa, Goa is known to be fast and can cause problems to the opposition with his pace. Dessai, in his third season at the club, is a fan favourite.

Bheke, was troubled incessantly by Defederico in his last match and resorted to hacking down the Argentine on a number of occasions. Dessai will also prove to be a challenge for the 25-year old and Bheke will have to be on his toes.

Jesus Tato vs Laxmikant Kattimani: A goalkeeper without confidence is the most vulnerable and Kattimani, who had a shocker of a match in his previous outing for the club must recover quickly to ensure that his goal is not breached against Pune.

Tato, who had a couple of good chances to score against Mumbai, did show the awareness to find space and will be entrusted with goalscoring duties again. The Spaniard loves a shot, as he has shown in the first match and Kattimani, will have to be careful against the ex-Barcelona youth product.

Expected Line-ups:

FC Goa

Laxmikant Kattimani; Lucio, Rafael Dumas, Fulganco Cardozo, Raju Gaikwad; Richarlyson, Trindade Goncalves; Mandar Rao Dessai, Jofre, Romeo Fernandes; Reinaldo

FC Pune City

Apoula Edel; Eduardo Ferreira, Gouramangi Singh, Narayan Das, Rahul Bheke; Jonatan Lucca, Lenny Rodrigues; Arata Izumi, Pitu, Gustavo Oberman; Jesus Tato