Atletico de Kolkata have missed some of their aura this season and it has certainly reflected on the team’s displays this season, as they have struggled to hit form.
Their defence, which has been traditionally strong, has suddenly started to show signs of leaking goals. With creativity and goals also being problem areas, Kolkata suddenly find themseleves somewhat on the backfoot.
Earlier in the season, Sameehg Doutie was frightening defenders with his lightening quick feet but the South African has since lost form, which has cost Kolkata in the wide areas. Despite all these worries, the inaugural champions are a threat, and mainly down to their all-action striker Iain Hume.
With Helder Postiga also getting a continuous run of games, a big win may not be far away but they need Javi Lara to provide more cutting edge passes in the final third, which has been lacking this season. In the earlier fixture between the teams, it was a tale of two halves with the game deservedly finishing 2-2.
With Jeje Lalpekhlua leading the line, Chennayin don’t have goalscoring worries to talk about. They registered a comfortable 2-0 win against FC Pune City in their last outing, putting an end to a wretched win-less run.
The last two games have seen a total of 12 goals that have been scored. With a lot riding on this contest (Only one point separate the two sides), one expects a bit of caution shown by both sides.
Match Facts
Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai
Capacity: 60,000
Time: 7 pm IST
Last meeting: Atlético de Kolkata 2 - 2 Chennaiyin FC, October 2nd, 2016, at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium, Kolkata
Head-to-head: Matches played: 7. Atlético wins: 3, Chennaiyin wins: 1, Draws: 3
Key Battles
Jeje Lalpekhlua vs Arnab Mondal
More than the two players in question, it will be a matter of how the supporting cast can perform that will decide the fate of this contest. Mondal has been let down by his fellow defenders at various points this season.
Here, he goes up directly against his international teammate but Davide Succi came alive in the tournament in previous game of the tournament, and has been teaming up with Jeje well.
Javi Lara vs Raphael Augusto
If Java Lara can be stopped in his tracks, half the battle can be won as he is the link between defence and attack. Raphael Augusto’s power and boundless energy will be the key in nullifying Lara’s threat. Augusto is no one-trick pony and can pop up across the midfield and create attacks. He doesn’t hesitate to take shots from distance either. Lara will have to attend to his defensive duties too.
Squads:
Chennaiyin FC: Karanjit Singh, Pawan Kumar, Duwayne Kerr, Bernard Mendy, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Eli Sabia, Eder Monterio, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Abhishek Das, John Arne Riise, Baljit Sahni, Hans Mulder, Manuele Blasi, Thoi Singh, Raphael Augusto, Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Davide Succi, Maurizio Peluso, Bedashwor Singh, Uttam Rai, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Zakeer Mundampara, Jayesh Rane
Atlético de Kolkata: Debjit Majumder, Dani Mallo, Shilton Paul, Arnab Mondal, Henrique Fonseca Sereno, Jose Arroyo, Keegan Pereira, Kingshuk Debnath, Prabir Das, Pritam Kotal, Robert Lalthamuana, Abinash Ruidas, Bidyananda Singh, Bikash Jairu, Bikramjit Singh, Borja Fernandez, Javi Lara, Jewel Raja, Lalrindika Ralte, Ofentse Nato, Sameehg Doutie, Stephen Pearson, Helder Postiga, Ian Hume, Juan Belencoso
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