The teams come into this fixture on the back of contrasting forms as Mohammedan have lost their last four matches while Sporting Clube are on a five-match unbeaten run.
The respective targets for each side are also completely different as the Kolkata giants are just a point above rock-bottom Rangdajied United while Sporting Clube are very much in the title race as they are three behind league leaders Bengaluru FC with a game in hand.
But instead of focusing on their recent troubles, Mohammedan Sporting will remind themselves of the reverse fixture in Goa back in October. They produced one of their best performances of the season to win 3-1.
Sanjoy Sen's side might have picked up their second trophy of the season during the I-League break in the form of the IFA Shield. But the constant action has taken a lot out of them physically while the Goan club had seven fewer fixtures during the near two-month interval.
After returning from the break, Mohammedan have suffered back-to-back defeats against Pune FC and Salgaocar, failing to score in both. Sen is well aware that his team can't afford to let this losing run continue if they want to avoid relegation and must look to win the home fixtures at least.
Second-placed Sporting Clube have played just one match after the break and that ended in a 1-1 draw away at Pune FC. The result could turn out to be a priceless point at the end of the season because Oscar Bruzon's side were far from their best against Pune.
"During the 90 minutes, we made some mistakes. We were not having control of the ball, but the boys put in everything. So I think a draw is a good result," the Spanish coach had stated after that game.
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