The ISL playoffs are approaching fast, and it’s a mixed bag; some teams look assured of securing a place, collecting wins and playing confidently; some of the teams seem to be cracking under pressure and could give away the position they’ve fought for. The resurgence of the lower mid-table teams gives them a fighting chance of getting to the playoffs, and every team looks to be fighting for the coveted playoff berth. Well, almost; Hyderabad have essentially crashed out of the playoffs and there have been fewer campaigns as forgettable as the one they’ve had this year. But let’s look at the other teams.
First 3- The stable few
Odisha stay atop the table and find themselves in a commanding position with 4 out of their last 5 matches resulting in wins. They are closely followed by Mohun Bagan and Mumbai City, both having a game over Odisha. The battle for the top 2 for direct semi-finals and the League Winners Shield could be close, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see these three teams occupy these positions.
Kerala and Goa- Trouble in Paradise?
With the shocking defeat of FC Goa in their match against the North East United FC, the Gaurs dropped down to fourth. With the solitary win in their last 5 games, they have gone from being top contenders for the League Winners Shield to mid-table, and if that doesn’t excite you enough, there’s more. Kerala Blasters also find themselves at a spot of bother, losing their last 3 matches. They started their campaigns strongly, but with the forms of both these teams, they are probably staring at a finish between 3rd and 6th, but with teams below breathing down their necks, will both teams make it?
The rest- who will make it to 6th?
While Goa and Kerala are having some trouble as of late, they are still head and shoulders above the rest regarding wins and points and should keep their place in the playoffs. That leaves one spot for NEUFC, JFC, EBFC, CFC, BFC and PFC, and there isn’t much differentiating these teams. While it could be an incredibly steep challenge for Bengaluru and Punjab, it isn’t impossible. Punjab having won their only 3 matches in their last 5 outings must now play like every game is the final. The other teams need to push for wins in all their matches to secure that spot. The most interesting fact is that all 4 sides ranked 6th to 9th (as of 22nd February before 7:30pm) have won their last game! Way to bring spice into the table. It won’t be shocking to see a colossal shift in the table by the end of the league stage.
It is a very delicate point of the ISL, and it is gearing up to be mouthwatering final match weeks. Both teams and players have ensured a thrilling season of football and the excitement is only going up until the end of the league. What is your predicted top 6?
