The 2016 season of ISL resumes after a day's break with Atlético de Kolkata taking on Mumbai City, in a clash of two unbeaten teams.
Mumbai's coach Alexandre Guimaraes has got off to an ideal start; a couple of 1-0 wins without any hassle and a pair of clean sheets to boot.
The squad looks settled but a third match in 8 days may test the strength of Guimares' squad to its hilt as marquee player 37-year old Diego Forlan appeared jaded and may be in need of a rest, especially consider that Sony Norde may be in line for a return after coming back from international duty.
The key players for Mumbai are Pronay Halder, Matias Defederico and Krisztian Vadocz and if they can keep these three men fit, there is a feeling that they can progress to the play-offs for the first time.
Atlético have started yet another ISL campaign on a positive note as they aim to make the semi-final stages of the competition for the third year in a row.
Marquee Helder Postiga was taken off with a rib injury in their last game against the Kerala Blasters and the Spaniard Juan Belencoso will get the nod, despite not having the best of games after coming on for Postiga.
The rest of the line-up should be fitter than their Mumbai counterparts after a gap of six days between games.
Jose Molina was absolutely delighted with his team's fitness, “Yes. I am absolutely happy with my team. As a coach you can see something to improve always. You will not be completely happy about everything but I am very happy with the performance of our team and we try to keep improving every day. We will try to score more goals, shuffle less players. After the two matches we have already played I am happy with my team.”
ATK kept a clean sheet in their last match which was more down to Blasters' profligacy than Atlético's defensive-sturdiness. The centre-back pairing of Arnab Mondal and Tiri but the full-backs Prabir Das and Pritam Kotal are susceptible to pace and look like they can be caught out by an high attacking line and Molina will be wary of this.
Match Facts
Venue: Andheri Sports Complex, Mumbai
Capacity: 24,000
Time: 7 pm IST
Last meeting: Atlético de Kolkata 2 - 3 Mumbai City FC, 4th December, 2015 at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata
Head-to-head: Matches: 4, Atlético wins: 2, Mumbai wins: 2
Key Battles
Matias Defederico vs Pritam Kotal: Defederico, the 26-year old Argentine, has brought pace and energy to Mumbai's frontline and continues to trouble defenders whenever he starts on the left flank.
Kotal, the right-back who is an Indian international struggled to come to grips with Antonio German's movement and was bailed out by his centre-halves on more than one occasion. Defederico has already scored one in this ISL and Kotal will have to be careful.
Iain Hume vs Anwar Ali: It is impossible to keep the 32-year old Hume out of the game and his work-rate and fitness at this age is a key to the Canadian's success in the ISL. Will be looking to become the sole highest goalscorer in the history of the ISL, currently tied with Stiven Mendoza on 17 goals.
Anwar Ali, the 32-year old centreback has been solid so far in Mumbai's opening two games but will come up against a different calibre of opponent in Hume. The Indian's experience will be key to the backline keeping a strong ATK attack quiet.
Expected line-ups:
Mumbai City: Roberto Volpato; Lucian Goian, Anwar Ali, Aiborlang Khangjee, Lalhmangaihsanga Ralte; Sehnaj Singh, Pronay Halder, Krisztian Vadocz; Leo Costa, Sony Norde, Matias Defederico
Atlético de Kolkata: Debjit Mazumder; Arnab Mondal, Tiri, Pritam Kotal, Prabir Das; Borja Fernandez, Jewel Raja; Sameehg Doutie, Javi Lara, Iain Hume; Juan Belencoso
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