3 February, 2025; Odisha FC is set to take on NorthEast United FC at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on February 3, Monday, at 7:30 PM IST, in a crucial Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 encounter. With playoffs on the horizon, both teams will look to strengthen their positions in the league standings.
Odisha FC’s Home Advantage vs NorthEast United FC’s Away Form
Historically, Odisha FC has dominated this fixture at home, winning all three of their previous meetings against the Highlanders at Kalinga Stadium. However, their last home game ended in a disappointing 2-4 loss to FC Goa. They will be eager to bounce back and avoid consecutive home defeats for the first time in their ISL history.
Meanwhile, NorthEast United FC comes into this fixture with impressive away form. They are unbeaten in their last three road games, winning twice and keeping clean sheets in the last two matches—marking their best defensive away run since 2018. Having already won the reverse fixture this season by a 3-2 margin, a victory here will give them their first-ever league double over Odisha FC.
Current Standings & Playoff Implications
NorthEast United FC is currently fourth in the league table with 28 points from 18 matches (seven wins, seven draws). They will be aiming to fend off competition from Bengaluru FC and Mumbai City FC, both of whom also have 28 points. A win in this game will solidify their playoff position.
Odisha FC, on the other hand, sits seventh with 24 points from 17 games. With a game in hand over Mumbai City FC (18 matches), a win is crucial to keeping their top-six hopes alive. A victory will also help them assert their home dominance and cut the gap to the playoff spots.
Odisha FC’s Attacking Strengths
- Consistent Scorers: Odisha FC has been the third-highest scoring team in the league with 34 goals in 17 matches. Diego Mauricio (9 goals) and Jerry Mawihmingthanga (5 goals) have been their key contributors. Mauricio has also registered the most goal contributions (5) in this fixture.
- Hugo Boumous’ Playmaking: Boumous has nine goal contributions (5 goals, 4 assists) against NorthEast United FC in the ISL. If he manages another goal or assist, he will join Liston Colaco (11) and Sunil Chhetri (10) in the exclusive club of players with 10+ goal contributions against the Highlanders.
NorthEast United FC’s Tactical Play in the Final Third
- Attacking Third Dominance: NorthEast United FC has registered the highest percentage of final third passes (37.4%) in ISL 2024-25, showcasing their attacking intent. In contrast, Odisha FC has the lowest share of final third passes (24.2%), highlighting the difference in their approaches.
- Points Lost and Gained: The Highlanders have dropped 14 points from winning positions this season, the most by any team. Odisha FC, on the other hand, has gained eight points from losing positions, suggesting a game of contrasting styles may unfold.
What the Coaches Say
Odisha FC’s head coach, Sergio Lobera, emphasized the need to learn from mistakes:
“They (senior players) are professionals. Everyone makes mistakes. The only person who doesn’t make a mistake is someone who doesn’t do anything. We need to learn from our mistakes and improve.”
NorthEast United FC’s head coach, Juan Pedro Benali, motivated his squad to sustain their work rate:
“We have been working hard all season. We need to keep going until the very end to get where we want to.”
Head-to-Head Record
In their 11 ISL encounters, Odisha FC holds the edge with six wins, while NorthEast United FC has won four times. One game ended in a draw.
Key Players to Watch & Milestones
- Parthib Gogoi (NorthEast United FC): With 18 goal contributions (10 goals, 8 assists), he is two away from becoming the first Indian to reach 20 goal contributions for NorthEast United FC in ISL history. If he does so in this match, he will also become the fastest player (22 years, 4 days) to reach this milestone.
- Jerry Mawihmingthanga (Odisha FC): He has scored five goals and provided one assist in 16 league appearances this season, with a 45.45% goal conversion rate.
- Alaaeddine Ajaraie (NorthEast United FC): After scoring a direct free-kick in the last match against Hyderabad FC, another in this game would make him only the third player to score free-kicks in consecutive ISL matches (joining Elano in 2014 and Jeremy Manzorro in 2023-24). He has 16 goals and five assists in 18 ISL games this season.
ISL Fantasy Picks
- Mourtada Fall (Odisha FC, 5.9cr): Highest fantasy points scorer for Odisha FC this season with 101 points.
- Alaaeddine Ajaraie (NorthEast United FC, 8.5cr): Leading fantasy points scorer for NEUFC this season with 129 points.
Broadcast & Streaming Details
The match will be streamed live on JioCinema (available in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam). It will also be telecast on Sports 18 – 3 (English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam), and selected matches will air on Sports 18 – 1, Sports 18 – 2, Sports 18 – Khel, and Star Sports 3.
With playoffs on the line, this promises to be an exciting clash between two teams with different playing styles and ambitions. Can Odisha FC continue their home dominance, or will NorthEast United FC extend their impressive away run?
