The 11^th season of the Indian Super League has been a thrilling one. We have witnessed some stunning displays and most importantly, a whole lot of goals. ISL 11 has seen an average of 3.1 goals per game and that’s the highest in the history of the league. Teams have delivered some incredible action and with action set to resume after the international break, we decided to take a deeper look at the season thus far.

Let’s start on the attacking side and Odisha FC are the team that have been the best at holding on to the ball this season.

Interestingly, though, while these five have been great at retaining possession, most of them have not found the back of the net with a great deal of regularity. FC Goa are the only team in that top five to also be in the top five when it comes to goals per game.

NorthEast United FC are averaging the most goals per game but are second from bottom when it comes to possession (42.2%). Chennaiyin FC, meanwhile, are fourth from bottom (45.2%). These two are certainly making the most of the time when they do have the ball.

The top three for goals per game have three of the most prolific forwards in the competition to thank for their placement. Alaaeddine Ajaraie has been on fire for NEUFC, with 11 goals in eight matches and he could potentially break the all-time record for most goals in a single season (18 by Ferran Corominas and Bartholomew Ogbeche). As for FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC, they have been led by Armando Sadiku (eight) and Wilmar Jordan (six) respectively.

When we look at chances created per game, it’s the same five teams, just in a different order.

Chennaiyin FC, NorthEast United FC, and Mohun Bagan Super Giant are somewhat clear of the rest of the competition here, which is quite impressive. Odisha FC and FC Bengaluru, meanwhile, are the top two when it comes to possession but rank third from bottom and bottom respectively in chances created per game at 8.8 and 7.1. There has been a fair bit of possession for possession’s sake from these two, which isn’t ideal.

As for how teams have found the back of the net this season, 65.1% of the goals have come from open play. NorthEast United FC are the team to have scored from open play the most, with 17. Mohammedan SC, meanwhile, have scored the fewest, with just one.

Penalties have proven to be the second-most common route for goals at 14.1%. Every team in the league has scored at least once from the spot and FC Goa have done so the most times at three.

Corners, meanwhile, have been responsible for just 9.1% of goals scored this season. Mumbai City FC have scored the most from them with three while East Bengal FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Mohammedan SC, NorthEast United FC, and Punjab FC are yet to score from them.

Mumbai City FC haven’t been great at just scoring from corners either, as they’re great at defending them too. They are one of five teams not to concede from corners this season along with Bengaluru FC, East Bengal FC, FC Goa, and Punjab FC.

Bengaluru FC have also been the best defensive team this season, having conceded just six goals, although all of them have been let in the last three games. Their star goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has kept five clean sheets so far and still has a chance at surpassing the all-time record of 11, which is held by him and Vishal Kaith.

As for the primary defensive actions, it’s Kerala Blasters FC who have been the most active.

While the Blasters have been ever so active, they are tied for the most goals conceded this season with 16. The other team to let in 16 are Jamshedpur FC who also find themselves in the top five in both categories.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant are the only other team to be in the top five for both but have conceded just eight. They have been excellent in the air too, with their aerial duel success rate of 60.6% being the best this season.

In all, the Mariners really emerge as the most complete team in the ISL this season when we take a deeper look. They have been great going forward and solid at the back and look like a good bet to defend their title.

While Mohun Bagan Super Giant have lived up to preseason expectations, the same cannot be said about Mumbai City FC and Odisha FC. They are down at eighth and ninth respectively after slow starts but still have time to turn things around and mount a serious challenge to MBSG and Bengaluru FC, who currently sit atop the standings.

As for who has surpassed expectations the most, I’d say it’s Punjab FC by a fair bit. They are sixth in the standings with 12 points from six games thanks to a strong defense, having conceded the second-fewest goals in the league this season (seven). Can they keep this up? Well, time will tell.

Meanwhile, on the bottom end of the table, East Bengal FC are the only winless team left in the competition. They’ll be hoping for an uptick in performances post this break the way Hyderabad FC had just before it. The Nizams had failed to win any of their first four games but entered the break with two wins in their last three.

One of those wins came over newly promoted Mohammedan SC, who have unsurprisingly had a rough season thus far. They are currently second from bottom with five points and I’d say it would be a successful first season if they manage to avoid finishing at the bottom.

Pic Credits: ISL