New Delhi: It will be a clash of two bottom-placed teams when Delhi Dynamos FC and FC Goa meet in an Indian Super League encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Thursday.
Both sides have managed just one win each out of seven matches. While Goa sit at the bottom of the pile with five points, Delhi, who are two points ahead, are at the second last spot.
However, it will be a crucial game for the hosts, as a win would see them jump into fourth place with 10 points. Mumbai City FC currently occupies that spot, but the Dynamos have a better goal difference.
After back-to-back defeats at the hands of FC Goa and Mumbai City FC, Delhi played out a goalless draw away to Kerala Blasters FC. Coach Harm van Veldhoven’s boys will be keen to end the winless streak in front of their home crowd.
However, for that to happen, they will need a much better performance than they have managed so far.
The Dynamos will hope that the trio of marquee player Alessandro Del Piero, Morten Skoubo and Mads Junker improve their combination upfront.
Del Piero has not performed at the level he was expected to. The Juventus legend, who turned 40 a few days ago, is a far cry from the player who won the World Cup with Italy in 2006.
In the midfield, Hans Mulder and Gustavo Santos have done well along with wingers Steven Dias and Shylo Malswamtluanga .
In defence, Wim Raymaekers and Souvik Chakraborthy are expected to be supported by Stijn Houben and Indian players Nouba Singh and Anwar Ali.
Goa also needs to improve a lot in order to have a chance of making the play-offs. Their best performance thus far was during their 1-2 loss to league leaders Atletico de Kolkata at home.
