NorthEast United had got their 2016 Indian Super League campaign off to a brilliant start and were thereabouts at the top of the table after the first few weeks. But the last four games have seen them slump to four defeats in as many games and, going into the business end of the season, Nelo Vingada’s side need a win in almost every game to assure themselves of a semi-final spot, considering they are at the bottom of the table currently.

Kolkata, on the other hand, have been inconsistent and it could be pinned down to a number of reasons, on and off the pitch. Their new home, Rabindra Sarobar Stadium, which will be hosting this contest, is not a patch on the intimidating cauldron of the Salt Lake Stadium. Their midfield and defence, which has been the heartbeat of the side, has only been adequate.

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However, Kolkata can take heart from the fact that even in the last season, it was only towards the end of the round-robin stages that they truly found their groove.

United have a daunting task ahead of them yet again, but their record shows that the Highlanders have been doing better away from home. However, they need the returning Emiliano Afano to pump in the goals. The Uruguayan cannot do it alone: He needs Katsumi Yusa and Robert Cullen to lend him support in attack.

Kolkata’s form has not been earth-shattering by any means and they have won only one of their last four games. Last season, United did the double over their opponents but in the earlier game of the season, Kolkata staged an excellent second-half fightback to win 2-1 at Guwahati. That became the game that triggered United’s freefall. A mammoth effort in character, especially deep into the game, will be needed for Vingada’s men to turn a corner here.

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Match Facts:

Venue: Rabindra Sarobar Stadium, Kolkata

Capacity: 22,000

Time: 7 pm IST

Last meeting: NorthEast United 1-2 Atletico de Kolkata, 28th October, 2016 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, Guwahati

Head-to-head: Matches: 5, Atletico wins: 3, NorthEast wins: 2

Key Battles:

Iain Hume vs Didier Zokora

The all-time top scorer in the ISL has only impressed in parts this season but with United being so brittle and vulnerable at the back, especially in the final stages of the game, Hume will be licking his lips. Zokora started well in this campaign but his side has collectively been dismal over the last few games, and some of the bad form has rubbed off on him.

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Nonetheless, Zokora is the most experienced campaigner in the United side and if anybody can infuse a bit of inspiration into the side, it is the tough-tackling Ivorian.

Emiliano Alfaro vs Tiri

Alfaro has been one of the finds of this campaign but his team’s over-reliance in recent weeks has seen him lose his scoring boots, somewhat. It could also stem from a lack of service from United’s midfield, which has been disjointed for the better part of the campaign.

Tiri made a costly mistake in Kolkata’s last game, which cost them a goal. Where Alfaro can score one over his opponent is by dropping a little deeper and getting Yusa in the game but will the Japanese be more clinical is a question that has been talked about from the time the league got under way.

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Squads:

Atletico de Kolkata

Dani Mallo, Debjit Majumder, Shilton Paul, Tiri, Arnab Mondal, Pablo Gallardo, Robert Lalthlamuana, Keegan Pereira, Pritam Kotal, Kingshuk Debnath, Javi Lara, Stephen Pearson, Borja Fernandez, Jewel Raja, Ofentse Nato, Bikramjit Singh, Bikash Jairu, Bidyananda Singh, Abinash Ruidas, Prabir Das, Sameehg Doutie, Lalrindika Ralte, Juan Belencoso, Iain Hume, Stephen Pearson

NorthEast United FC

Subrata Paul, Wellington Gomes,Gustavo Lazzaretti, Mailson Alves, Nirmal Chettri, Reagan Singh, Salam Ranjan Singh, Shouvik Ghosh, Didier Zokora, Fabio Neves, Fanai Lalrempuia, Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Katsumi Yusa, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Manoel Morais Amorim, Rowlin Borges, Seit Yasen Singh, Wellington Priori, Sasha Aneff, Nicolas Vélez, Sumit Passi.