Mumbai FC vs East Bengal FC Prediction: Mumbai aiming to retain ISL Shield

Mumbai FC will welcome East Bengal FC in Gameweek 10 of the Indian Super League at Mumbai Football Arena. Mumbai would want to retain the ISL shield this year. Who will win? 

The Islanders had anticipated extending their momentum from the Bengaluru encounter as they faced Goa, only to encounter an equally formidable challenge from Manolo Marquez and his team. Both sides fiercely contested, with neither managing to break the deadlock despite a dedicated effort to exploit every opportunity. This encounter likely prompted Kratky to realize the intensified competition for top-table positions this season.

Therefore, engagements against lower-ranked teams, particularly at home, should be viewed as opportunities where settling for anything less than three points is not acceptable. The Islanders must secure a victory against East Bengal FC to narrow the gap with the leading Gaurs, who currently stand five points ahead (20) of Mumbai, having played an additional game (8). With consecutive clean sheets in their last two matches, the Islanders aim to make scoring a challenging task for Cuadrat's side. Successfully breaching the defensive unit of East Bengal FC should pave the way for the home team to secure three points in this contest.

Lachenpa; Bheke, Griffiths, Mehtab Singh; Vikram Partap, Lalengmawia, Vinit Rai, Mishra; El Khayati, Stewart; Diaz

The 5-0 victory over NorthEast United FC marked East Bengal FC's most significant win in their ISL history. The subsequent match against winless Punjab FC presented an opportune moment for them to replicate that success and secure three additional points. However, inconsistency emerged as a stumbling block.

East Bengal FC must overcome these challenges to pave the way for what could be an outstanding season if they strategically navigate their matches. With dynamic wingers and an efficient striker in Cleiton Silva, the Red & Gold Brigade possesses the qualities of a high-scoring team, having scored 11 goals in eight encounters. Their aim should be to substantially increase this tally, beginning with the upcoming match against Mumbai City FC.

Adopting their natural gameplay without conservative adjustments will enable East Bengal FC to level the playing field in this match. Discarding any apprehensions, they should confront the Islanders head-on, leading to a result that accurately reflects the performance of both sides.

Gill; Kumar, Lalchungnunga, Maher, Dessai; Herrera, Crespo, Souvik; Naorem Mahesh, Cleiton Silva, Nandha

East Bengal has maintained an undefeated streak in their last three matches. Their sole away victory in 2023 occurred against Mumbai City. However, the hosts are expected to be better prepared for the upcoming game. East Bengal's performance in away matches hasn't been exceptional, and following a lacklustre display against Punjab, Mumbai City can approach this game with confidence, aiming to secure three points.