Promising playoffs

Mohun Bagan Super Giant: NorthEast United FC will hope to make a decisive push to make it to the top-six when they play Hyderabad FC in a crucial match in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 at the Gachibowli Stadium, here on Monday. Having lost just one of their last four matches, the Highlanders are now within an arm’s length of the Playoffs spots. They have 19 points from 16 games, placing them at the eighth place in the table.

Thus, they are just two points behind the sixth-placed Bengaluru FC (21), having two games in hand as compared to the Blues who have already played 18 matches. The Highlanders have secured victories against East Bengal FC and FC Goa since the season resumed after the break at the halfway mark. They gave Mohun Bagan Super Giant a tough run for their money amidst a 4-2 defeat and held Jamshedpur FC to a 1-1 draw.

Returning to action after 11 days, the Juan Pedro Benali-coached side must have had ample time to reflect and recharge for the next six games against a Hyderabad FC unit that is winless after 17 games, losing all five of their previous encounters this season.