Indian Super League: NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) take on East Bengal today in Kolkata

Our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI: NorthEast United FC will face East Bengal FC in their next game in ISL in Kolkata on Friday. The match will be held at the VYBK (Salt Lake Stadium).

Juan Pedro Benali’s troops are coming into the fixture high on confidence after a resolute 2-1 victory over Punjab FC on the road. On the other hand, East Bengal will play their first match after the international break and in their last fixture drew 0-0 against fellow Kolkata outfit Mohammedan SC.

NorthEast United FC are third in the table with 15 points from 9 games, while East Bengal are currently last with one point from seven matches. However, the gaffer emphasised that his team must be humble and should focus on themselves.

“Every game is different, East Bengal has a special style, they’re a side with good players. We have to focus on ourselves.  How to play easy, stay calm... We’ve to stay humble and try to get three points,” Benali said to the media.

Alaaeddine Ajaraie is the leading goal contributor (11 goals & 4 assists) in the ISL and has so far scored every time he has played in Kolkata. Should he score against East Bengal, he would match Bartholomew Ogbeche’s record of scoring maximum ISL goals (12) in a season for NorthEast United FC or can even better it.

“We now know that everybody will go for him (Alaaeddine), he needs to be calm, focus on his game and he will find the back of the net. If they man-mark him or mark him with two or three players, it means other players are free and can score like we saw in the last game,” Benali added. IANS

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