The Indian Super League (ISL 2019-20) is into the final week of the league stage and an exciting race for the top spot and the final play-off places take centrestage.
ATK Mohun Bagan and Mumbai City FC are involved in a batte for the League Winner's Shield and the AFC Champions League group stage spot.
RELATED| ISL 2020-21 Points table
Mohun Bagan and Mumbai City are the only two teams to have qualified for the playoffs while three teams -- FC Goa, Hyderabad FC and NorthEast United FC -- are still in contention for the last two playoffs place.
Ahead of the final week's fixtures, Sportstar takes a look at the possible scenarios for these six clubs involved.
If any of the below teams finish level on points, their positions will be determined in this order: 1) Most number of points compiled in league matches between the concerned clubs. 2) Superior goal difference resulting from league matches between the concerned clubs. 3) Most number of goals scored in the league matches between the concerned clubs. 4) Superior goal difference in the league stage. 5) Most number of goals scored in the league stage. 6) Highest fair play ranking. 7) Drawing of lots by the league. |
(Copy updated after Feb. 22)
ATK Mohun Bagan (vs Mumbai City FC) - Position: 1 | 40 points
The Kolkata giant has a six-point advantage over second-placed Mumbai City, which face each other in the final league stage game. If Mumbai fails to beat Odisha FC, Mohun Bagan will be guaranteed to finish top. If Mumbai beats Odisha, then Antonio Habas' side would need to avoid defeat in the final game to seal top spot.
Mumbai City FC (vs Odisha FC, vs ATK Mohun Bagan) - Position: 2 | 34 points
A win for Mumbai against Odisha will set up a final day showdown between the top-two sides for the No. 1 spot.
In the possibility that Mohun Bagan and Mumbai finish level on points, Sergio Lobra's men will take the top spot due to the head-to-head tie-breaker. Mumbai beat ATK Mohun Bagan 1-0 in the reverse fixture.
FC Goa (vs Hyderabad FC) - Position: 3 | 30 points
Goa has one foot in the playoffs place and requires just a point from its final game against Hyderabad on Sunday.
PODCAST - In the latest episode of Sportstar's 'The Full Time Show', Odisha FC's Rohan Sharma and Raj Athwal take us through their former head coach Stuart Baxter's comments, their decision to let him go and the larger problem of trivializing sexual violence in the sporting world.
|
Hyderabad FC (vs FC Goa) - Position: 4 | 28 points
If Hyderabad draws against Mohun Bagan and beats Goa, then it will finish higher than Goa.
| Position | Clubs | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| 1. | ATK Mohun Bagan | 19 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 28 | 13 | 15 | 40 |
| 2. | Mumbai City FC | 18 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 27 | 17 | 10 | 34 |
| 3. | FC Goa | 19 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 31 | 23 | 8 | 30 |
| 4. | Hyderabad FC | 19 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 27 | 19 | 8 | 28 |
| 5 | NorthEast United FC | 18 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 27 | 24 | 3 | 27 |
NorthEast United FC (vs East Bengal, vs Kerala Blasters) - Position: 5 | 27 points
Two wins in its last two matches against teams in the bottom half should be enough for Khalid Jamil's men to return to a playoff place. In the event, that Hyderabad and NorthEast finish level on points, the former has a superior head-to-head record. And if Goa and NEUFC finish level on points, the latter will need to improve on its goal difference to finish higher.