Mohammedan Sporting Club will take on FC Goa in the opening fixture of Matchweek 2 of the Indian Super League, ISL 2025–26 season at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Friday, February 20.
With both teams yet to secure their first win of the campaign, the contest presents an early opportunity to build momentum and move away from the lower half of the table.
Mohammedan SC began their debut ISL season with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Jamshedpur FC in their opening fixture. Despite the result, head coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo’s all-Indian squad displayed commendable defensive discipline and tactical organisation for large spells of the match. However, their inability to capitalise on attacking opportunities ultimately proved costly.
Returning to home turf, Mohammedan SC will aim to translate defensive solidity into tangible points. Wadoo acknowledged the areas that require improvement, particularly in the attacking third, where the side struggled to create clear-cut chances in their season opener.
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“We are a young and inexperienced side, lacking a quality striker,” Wadoo admitted ahead of the match. “However, we believe in these young players, and tomorrow they are going to put in their best. We have to create more chances; the improvement needs to happen in the final third. Tomorrow we will play better attacking football.”
The Mohammedan coach also emphasised the scale of the challenge posed by their upcoming opponents, adding that FC Goa’s quality would demand a disciplined and focused performance from his side.
FC Goa, meanwhile, arrive in Kolkata seeking redemption after being held to a 1-1 draw by ISL debutants Inter Kashi in their opening game. The Gaurs dominated possession for large parts of the contest but were made to pay for missed opportunities before eventually restoring parity in the second half.
Under the guidance of head coach Manolo Márquez, the Super Cup champions are expected to continue deploying a possession-oriented approach, backed by a blend of experienced international players and a strong domestic core. However, Márquez acknowledged that converting dominance into results will be crucial moving forward.
“Obviously it will be a difficult game,” Márquez said in the pre-match press conference. “They are playing without too much pressure, and this can be more dangerous. We know that they will play with a lot of intensity. We need to be equal in this aspect. Maybe we have more quality, but we need to show this quality. If we want to win the game, we need to show it on the pitch.”
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The Spaniard also highlighted the importance of securing a positive result early in the season to avoid unnecessary pressure.
“It is important to remove the zero from the points table as soon as possible,” Márquez added. “We have a team that should definitely be competitive during all thirteen games.”
Friday’s fixture sets up a compelling tactical battle between Mohammedan SC’s compact defensive structure and FC Goa’s expansive, ball-dominant style of play. While the hosts will look to frustrate their opponents with disciplined pressing and structured defending, the visitors are expected to rely on patient build-up play to unlock the Mohammedan backline.
With the Black and White Brigade eager to avoid successive defeats and FC Goa determined to assert their credentials as early contenders, the encounter at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan promises to be a closely contested affair.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 19:30 IST and will be streamed live on FanCode, with television coverage available on Sony Sports TEN 2.
