NorthEast United FC face tough Mohun Bagan Super Giant test at home

"We're building the team slowly. We need to give them the chance," NorthEast United FC head coach Juan Pedro Benali said after his team's 1-1 draw against Hyderabad FC on Sunday.
"Well, one more point. We are in two digits (10 points) already. And thinking about the next game," added Benali referring to NEUFC's 10 points from nine matches so far that put them on the seventh spot - a bright development for a team that finished at the bottom of the table last season.
However, the next Indian Super League game awaiting them will be a real test of the progress that the Highlanders have made under the Spaniard as they host defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant in a crucial fixture at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium on Friday.
But NEUFC will take confidence from the fact that their only victory in 20 matches in the previous campaign had come against Mohun Bagan at this Guwahati venue. Jordan Gil had scored a 69th-minute winner, and the home team will be hoping for a repeat of that result this time around, especially given their recent outcomes.
Another morale-boosting statistic is that the Highlanders have scored in each of their last seven games against the Mariners, and they are also on a four-game unbeaten run at home currently. They have ridden the support of their home fans incredibly well in this edition, and nothing could get them roaring more than an encouraging, impressive outing against the mighty Bagan.
Dealing with a host of injury concerns, the Mariners drew 2-2 against Odisha FC at home in their last ISL fixture. They fielded a new-look side at Maziya S&RC and lost the AFC Cup game 0-1. The visitors will be keen to get a victory and recover their winning momentum after their five-match victorious streak was broken by the Juggernauts.
However, they can be high of confidence after coming back from two goals down to secure a point against the Juggernauts in the previous encounter. Armando Sadiku bagged a brace and that will reinforce the faith of Juan Ferrando in his frontline. Mohun Bagan have not faced a loss in any of their last 12 ISL encounters that included being crowned the 2022-23 champions.
Bagan's 41-year-old assistant coach Clifford Miranda believes that the team is facing increasing challenges due to the tight schedule and numerous injuries - that includes the likes of Hugo Boumous, Anirudh Thapa and Sahal Abdul Samad - but expresses confidence in the depth of his squad.
"It is difficult, especially with a lot of injuries. But then we knew this from the beginning and that is why we have a squad. We have other players who can fill up and hopefully, will be able to do the job," Miranda said.