Competition: ISL
Market: Goal to be scored in both halves
Odds: 3/5 @ BetUS
In what could prove to be a lively ISL showdown on Monday afternoon, Odisha will welcome Punjab to the Kalinga Stadium.
Starting with the hosts, currently sat outside the play-off places and wit time starting to tick away, Odisha know that they face what could be a season-defining contest here. Although the Juggernauts might have signed off January with a dramatic 3-2 victory away at Bengaluru, that is the only win that Sergio Lobera’s men have collected from any of their previous seven Super League appearances. With that rut stemming back to a 2-1 victory against East Bengal on Deceiver 12th, the former Las Palmas manager will have a major headache over his side’s glaring defensive issues. Last seen falling to a 2-1 loss away at Goa on Thursday afternoon, Odisha have shipped at least a pair of goals in all of their previous six ISL showdowns. Failing to notch consecutive Super League victories over the past three months, Lobera’s side have also recorded just a sole ISL win at the Kalinga Stadium since a 2-1 victory against East Bengal on October 22nd.
As for the visitors, making an immediate return to losing ways on Wednesday afternoon as they slumped to a 3-0 drumming against Mohun Bagan, Punjab have the feel of a squad limping their way over the finishing line. Despite getting February underway with an action-packed 3-2 victory against Bengaluru, the Shers have recorded just a single Super League win from any of their previous nine consecutive appearances – a rut that stems all the way back to December 6th. Including a 2-1 loss at home against Jamshedpur last month, Monday’s guests have also shown their own respective defensive struggles. Along with conceding seven goals in their last three ISL showdowns, Punjab have also failed to notch a single clean sheet over the past three months. However, lading what was a dramatic 2-1 win when they welcomed Odisha to Mohali on September 20th, Panagiotis Dilmperis’s men will be desperately seeking a repeat performance on Monday afternoon.
Bet: Goal to be scored in both halves at Odisha FC vs Punjab FC 3/5 for Monday’s ISL matchup @ BetUS
