Kerala Blasters experienced a rude shock at the Andheri Sports Complex as a highly motivated and well-drilled Mumbai City FC came out guns blazing and romped to a 5-0 win. The win showed that Alexandre Guimares’s side is getting closer than every other team in the league in ironing out the side’s deficiencies.
With Diego Forlan also getting in on the score sheet, Mumbai have put their scoring woes that haunted them in the early part of the campaign behind them. This time, Mumbai need to show that they have a strong midfield spine too; their defence has been tremendous from the start.
Mumbai’s home form is a concern, and barring the last game, their best performances in the ISL have come on the road. It shouldn’t be an earth-shattering concern, given that Atletico de Kolkata have also struggled with moving to a new home this season. Against a robust Mumbai defence, Chennaiyin need Jeje Lalpekhlua to put on his scoring boots.
With Rafael Augusto pushing forward and playing an advanced role, midfield has been a matter of concern for Chennaiyin FC as well. The reigning champions have been cut open on the counter a little too easy for Marco Materazzi’s liking. Chennayin’s win-less run, which stretched for five straight games, has now put them in position where every game is a cup final, going into the last three rounds of the round-robin stages.
It is a situation that almost all sides find themselves in at the moment. Such is the nature of the league that a win by a four-goal margin by Chennaiyin would haul them to the second spot in the table – currently they lie one place from the bottom.
The two sides share a lopsided history, with Chennaiyin winning four out of the five games whenever the two sides met.
Match Facts
Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai
Capacity: 20,000
Time: 7 pm IST
Last meeting: Chennaiyin FC 1-1 Mumbai City FC, November 2nd 2016, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai
Head-to-head: Matches: 5, Chennaiyin wins: 4, Mumbai wins: 0, Draws: 1
Key Battles
Bernard Mendy vs Sunil Chhetri
If early indications are anything to go with so far, the veteran Indian striker has been combining well with Forlan. Both strikers are somewhat similar and have a penchant for dropping deep and getting others into the game. The tactic worked brilliantly in the latter stages of Forlan’s Uruguay career with Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez playing further forward.
Mendy, after a slow start, is back to his best, effortlessly mashalling his backline. The Frenchman also has a wonder-goal in him, but this will be a stiff battle for Chhetri as he meets one of the best defenders of ISL’s brief history.
Lucian Goian vs Jeje Lalpekhlua
Goian has been outstanding for Mumbai and has been one of the foremost reasons why the side has stopped leaking goals this season. The Romanian defender, though, has taken a few knocks this season and it remains to be seen if Guimares will risk him with the game. Jeje has got goals but is still one big game away so far.
Expected line-ups
Mumbai City FC: Amrinder Singh; Lucian Goian, Anwar Ali, Aiborlang Khongjee, Lalhmangaihsanga Ralte; Gerson Vieira, Krisztian Vadocz; Matias Defederico, Sony Norde, Diego Forlan; Sunil Chhetri
Chennaiyin FC: Karanjit Singh; Bernard Mendy, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Eli Sabia, Jerry Lalrinzuala; Hans Mulder, Raphael Augusto, Siam Hanghal; Davide Succi, Maurizio Peluso, Jeje Lalpekhlua
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