New Delhi: Revenge and a top-place finish will be on Delhi Dynamos' mind when they square-off against FC Goa in their final league game of the Indian Super League (ISL) Season 2 on Sunday.
It will also be a battle between the 'Master' and his 'Student' when these two sides meet here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
The last time Zico's army had faced Roberto Carlos' brigade, FC Goa had come up with a one sided 2-0 victory over the Dynamos.
On Sunday, this will not only be the opportunity for Carlos – who had claimed Zico is like a father, a teacher to him – to settle scores but also to fight it out for a top-place finish in the concluding league clash of the ISL.
FC Goa and Delhi Dynamos are placed third and fourth respectively on the ISL table with 22 points each but the visiting side is ahead with a better goal difference.
The two teams would eye the top spot but having already qualified for the semi-finals, the focus could also be on giving rest to some of their best players before the all important playoffs.
Dynamos' player-manager Carlos has already made it clear that he wants players fresh for the semi-final battles.
After qualifying for the play-offs, Carlos rested Robin Singh and Seminlen Doungel for the game against Kerala Blasters and he looks set to continue with his policy of providing rest to some more key players in the final league game.
"Against Goa, probably I won’t play (Florent) Malouda, Chicao, probably won’t use (Adil) Nabi, and I want some players to take a rest for the next phase," the legendary Brazilian left-back had earlier said.
Delhi lost to FC Goa in their opening game away in Goa 0-2 but since then the team has made some rapid progress, never really falling out of the top four. The Dynamos, who missed out on qualifying for the play-offs on a solitary point last season, have played some impressive football, never really falling out of the top four.
"Step by step, the team is improving. For the next phase of the league, they will be better because they have spent so much time together. They know each other very well now and that should help them in the next phase," said the Brazilian World Cup winner.
On the other hand, FC Goa assistant coach Fernando Vannucci indicated that they may field the best available team to finish on top of the table.
"In our way of thinking, we will field the best players available, although a clear picture will emerge only after the (final) training session. Since the tournament is very short, we will want the best players not to get injured ahead of the semi-finals," Vannucci said during the pre-match media briefing.
Having qualified for the play-offs, Vannucci said the competition will only get tougher from here and his team is looking to go for the first or second spot and have the advantage of playing the second game at home.
"We are now looking to be first or second so that we can have the advantage of playing the second game at home. In a tournament like the ISL, which is so well balanced, we cannot choose any opponent. Every opponent is good and we respect all of them. You must not forget that last year the final was played between the third- and fourth-placed teams," said Vannucci.
However, FC Goa will miss the services of Brazilian midfielder Leo Moura who picked up his fourth booking in the last game and remains suspended for Sunday night's clash.
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