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DIMAPUR — The Jamshedpur FC juggernaut will travel to Guwahati and take on NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium as the double-header of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 kick starts on Saturday.
According to press release issued by ISL, a cracking contest is likely between two sides whose fortunes have been on an upward trajectory this year. Khalid Jamil’s blueprint has settled seamlessly amongst the Red Miners, who are placed second in the table with 12 points from five games.
The Highlanders have accumulated five points from as many matches and are 10th in the standings, but they have been beaten only once in their previous four games.
“NorthEast United FC, too, have produced positive signs under the tutelage of Juan Pedro Benali, and they must be certain that better things are on the radar for them moving ahead in the current campaign,” it stated.
The Highlanders have not tasted a loss in their previous two meetings against Jamshedpur FC, despite losing four times consecutively prior to this brief positive run. If they find the back of the net in this game, it will mark their joint-longest goal-scoring streak against the Red Miners, equalling a three-game-long stretch from January 2021-February 2022. The upcoming match on their home turf could be the very impetus they need to fuel their campaign and march ahead with greater confidence and vigour.
For Jamshedpur FC, the season has begun strongly and they have garnered victories in each of their last two matches. Their previous-longest winning sequence was of seven games on a stretch in February-March 2022. They also have an opportunity to mark a first here, since winning against NorthEast United FC will make it the maiden time that they emerge victorious in two out of their first three away fixtures of an ISL season.
NorthEast United FC head coach Juan Pedro Benali brushed away suggestions that his team is under any pressure. However, he highlighted a key area of concern with regards to their defensive unit.
“There is no pressure on us. But we are hungry. I don’t look at points, but I look at the goals scored against us. Two goals against us per game is too much. We need to decrease that and if we do so, then we will automatically do well as we are one of the teams to have scored the most goals this season,” Benali said.
Jamshedpur FC head coach Khalid Jamil maintained that his side is extremely keen on getting a positive result tomorrow. He was all praise for the home team of this fixture too.
“Everyone is doing well. All the focus is on tomorrow. We have a vital game coming up. NorthEast United FC have a very good coach and a good mix of Indian and foreigner players. They are overall one of the best teams in the ISL,” Jamil said.