In a two-legged tie, it is experience and tactical discipline that wins teams matches. Atletico de Kolkata proved that theory in style in the first leg in Kolkata as table-toppers Mumbai City FC lost their lead, their composure and the game.
Despite having one of their most reliable defenders in Arnab Mondal and having benched their influential playmaker Javi Lara, ATK prevailed. The inaugural Indian Super league winners’ frontline was in supreme form and left the Mumbai defence in sixes and sevens.
While Sunil Chhetri was a late entrant to the Mumbai setup owing to his Bengaluru FC commitments, marquee man Diego Forlan has been with the team from the onset. Alexandre Guimares revolved much of his team’s plans around the Uruguayan. With suspension ruling Forlan out of this contest, Guimares would have had to quickly adjust the forward line.
Without a doubt, Mumbai will start with their tried and tested 4-3-3 formation with Sony Norde slotting into the left flank and Sunil Chhetri moving to the centre. That is where the home side, who need goals in the game, will encounter problems. Norde has only played a peripheral role in this campaign while Chhetri has largely been operating from the left, which went on to be destructive for opposition defenders, especially his interplay with Forlan.
One has to wait and see if Lara starts this game for ATK. Nonetheless, Molina has the wise old head of Borja Fernandez to turn to and the Spaniard has seldom let his team down since the first season.
Despite getting off to a slow start to the season, ATK owner Sanjiv Goenka had stated that he saw more unity in the team this season compared to the previous ones. The manner in which Goenka’s team approached the first leg certainly validates his claims.
Mumbai, on the other hand, looked bereft of ideas, especially in the second half. It can happen to a team to teams who go on a continuous run of wins, centered around a particular template. It was Iain Hume and Co. who were creating goalscoring opportunities and should have posted a bigger lead.
Mumbai have been a better side away from home so far but the encouraging bit for them is that they have smashed seven goals in their last two games at the Andheri Sports Complex. It is that momentum that should cling on to punish ATK for the chances they wasted towards the end of the previous encounter.
Match Facts:
Venue: Andheri Sports Complex, Mumbai
Capacity: 20,000
Time: 7 pm IST
Last meeting: Atlético de Kolkata 3-2 Mumbai City FC, 10th December, 2016 at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium, Kolkata
Head-to-head: Matches: 7, Atlético wins: 3, Mumbai wins: 3
Key Battles:
Gerson Vieria vs Borja Fernandez
Both players put in good shifts for their respective teams in the first leg. However, it was Borja’s class and know-how in these contests that proved to be the difference between the two teams. Here, Vieria needs to be at the top of his defensive game, just to keep the ATK midfielder quiet.
Fernandez, though, is a smart operator in the middle of the park and almost has a calm, Xavi-like presence. Unsettling his game would be a tall order for Mumbai and their best chance of keeping the 35-year-old quiet is by starving him off the ball.
Sony Norde vs Pritam Kotal
While Chhetri has played a different role that he has been used to in recent years this season, the Indian veteran will now go back to a familiar position, being the No.9. This will also mean that he would need his partners on the flanks, Matias Defeerico and Norde, who is expected to fill in for Forlan, to provide him with quality service.
Pritam Kotal, at right back, will face a tricky customer who can take on an entire backline on his own, if in the mood. Norde has had a indifferent season but Kotal needs to watch his man closely as it is the Haiti forward’s moves that can throw the backline off guard.
Expected Lineups:
Mumbai City FC: Amrinder Singh; Aiborlang Khongjee, Anwar Ali, Lucian Goian, Fanai; Gerson Vieria, Krisztian Vadocz, Leo Costa; Sony Norde, Sunil Chhetri, Matias Defederico
Atletico de Kolkata: Debjit Majumder; Pritam Kotal, Kinshuk Debnath, Henrique Sereno, Prabir Das; Stephen Pearson, Borja Fernandez; Abinash Ruidas, Helder Postiga, Sameehg Doutie; Iain Hume
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