Not much will be at stake for the bottom-placed team on the Indian Super League table as they prepare for their penultimate fixture of the season. Having lost all but one — an upset for ATK Mohun Bagan — match of season 9, a win for NorthEast United FC on Friday will have a bearing on their honour but not on their position at 11 on the 11-team table.
It will, however, be a different story for Odisha FC at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium. Waiting just a rung below the playoff cutout at seventh spot, the Josep Gombau-led visitors will have all to play for in their 18th game of the season. They will be level on points with FC Goa, who lost against Chennaiyin on Thursday, when they take the field on Friday and can end in the playoff zone after the final whistle.