Mumbai City FC vs Hyderabad FC: Home record a worry for Costa’s men

Unbeaten in their last five games, Jorge Costa’s Mumbai City FC are on a roll in this season’s Indian Super League. Beating the defending champions, Bengaluru FC away from home was no slouch and the Islanders showed why they shouldn’t be taken for granted in the subsequent fixture when the likes of Paulo Machado and Raynier Fernandes guided the team to a 2-1 victory against an in-form Jamshedpur FC; again, away from home.

Up next for Costa and his team lies a rather easy test – a home game against the bottom-placed Hyderabad FC, who are the only team yet to take a point in four away matches. But will it really be that easy? Stats say otherwise.

A worrying home record

Mumbai’s recent form sure gives them confidence heading into the game, but the fact remains that they are the only team yet to win a home match in the ongoing season. They, in fact, have lost five of their last six home games. The Islanders, as of now, acquire the fifth spot in the league tally with 13 points in nine games and they have only secured one point from their three home matches.

The contrast in their record away from home is exhilarating, to say the least. In their six away games, they are unbeaten with 3 wins and 3 draws. The key element in their form has been the number of goals they have conceded both home and away. After nine games, Mumbai have conceded 3 goals/match in their home matches compared to the 1.17 goals/match in away matches.

Only only NorthEast United who have played 2 more matches have conceded more goals at home than Mumbai.

What helps Costa against Sunday’s opponent is the fact that Hyderabad doesn’t ooze any confidence either. They have conceded 13 goals (3.25/match) and have scored 4 goals (1/match) in their last four away matches.

Goal scoring not a worry for Mumbai

Striker Amine Chermiti has shouldered Mumbai’s goal-scoring duties this season, scoring four goals so far, but Costa will be happy about the contribution the other outfield players have made in the process. The team has as many as 12 different goal scorers this season, which is most by any team in the league this season. Furthermore, with four goals, no team’s defenders have scored more goals this year than Mumbai City FC’s defenders. FC Goa sit on level terms with the Islanders in the context.

Mumbai’s goalscorers this season: Amine Chermiti (4), Paulo Machado (1), Sauvik Chakrabarti (1), Mohamed Larbi (1), Pratik Chaudhari (1), Rowllin Borges (1), Subhasish Bose (1), Bipin Singh (1), Sarthak Golui (1), Diego Carlos (1), Raynier Fernandes (1), Serge Kevyn (1).

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @MumbaiCityFC