v/s
NorthEast United FC
D. Y. Patil Stadium, Mumbai
Wednesday 28th October 2015, 7PM IST
***
The two in-form teams from two corners of India setup an exciting clash, as Mumbai City FC play hosts to the team from Guwahati, NorthEast United FC, in the Hero Indian Super League on Wednesday.
Two teams from two corners of India, owned by two Bollywood superstars a Ranbir Kapoor and John Abraham a go head to head as they look to book their place for the playoffs. The Hero Indian Super League, thanks to its format, is always filled with suspense and isna t going to be any different when these two teams face each other.
Both teams had a poor start to second edition of the Hero Indian Super League and were vying for the wooden spoon award, but two consecutive victories for both the sides has shuffled all the permutations and combinations. Both teams now eye a spot in the playoffs and will look to build upon their winning run.
Team News and Tactics
Mumbai City FC
Head Coach Nicolas Anelka has a fully fit squad to pick his team but would hardly want to change the winning combination that proved effective in the last two matches. Mumbai City FC, who have been struggling to combine the midfield and the forward line, have been greatly benefitted with return of Indian national team captain Sunil Chhetri from his national duties. Sunila s hardworking nature has proven to be the key, as he effectively linked the two lines with his intelligent play, but it wasna t to be the only thing as he found his name in the scoresheet as well to solve another problematic area.
Subrata Paul, nicknamed Sipderman for his acrobatic saves in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, is the undisputed first choice goalkeeper and will need to pull some similar acrobatic saves against the Highlanders. Anelka and assistant coach Oscar Bruzon have finally found their perfect combination in the back four. Paul will have the foreign rearguard of Darren Oa dea and Pavel Cmovs as the two centre backs, who will be flanked by the two rampaging fullbacks, Ashutosh Mehta and Lalchhuanmawia Fanai.
The Mumbai City midfield will consist of the tenacious duo of Cristian Bustos and Aguilera in double pivot of a 4-2-3-1 formation that transitions between 4-4-1-1 and 4-2-2-2. The attacking trio will consist of the Haitian trickmaster, Sony Norde, in the left flank, Sunil Chhetri in the centre of the trio amd Gabriel Fernandes on the right.
The forward position will be a competition between Nicolas Anelka and Frederic Piquionne, with the later most probably edging out the marquee player cum manager Nicolas Anelka.
Possible line-up (4-2-3-1): . Paul; Mehta, Cmovs, Oa dea, Fanai; Bustos, Aquilera; Norde, Chhetri,Gabriel; Piquionne
NorthEast United FC
Just like his Mumbai counterpart, NorthEast United FC manager Cesar Farias isna t likely to tinker much with his lineup either and is likely to field the same lineup that won him the match against defending champion Atletico de Kolkata.
The Highlander, who make the long trip across the country, have been poor traveller this season and would like to change that aspect against Mumbai City FC. T. P. Rehenesh, who had been impressive in the last edition of the Hero Indian Super League, is likely to retain his place in goal.
Farias, who prefers a 5-3-2 formation with two wingbacks, finally has a fully fit squad to pick from as NorthEast United FC seems to have finally recovered from their injury crisis along with their new signing adjusting well to their life in India. Reagan Singh and Robin Gurung are likely to take the duties of wingback, with Aibor, Hengbart and new signing Carlos Lopez to partner each other in the three man defence.
New signing Andre Bikey, who has excelled in the role of midfield enforcer, will be accompanied by Bruno Herrero and Siam Hangal in midfield. Diomansy Kamara is likely to be one of the two forwards with Nicolas Velez and Francis Dadzie competing for the final spot in the lineup
Possible line-up (5-3-2): Rehenesh; Reagan, Aibor, Lopez, Hengbart, Robin; Bikey, Herrero, Hangal; Kamara, Velez.
Prediction
Mumbai City FC 2a 1 NorthEast United FC
Both teams eye for a spot in the playoffs and is likely to be a crucial encounter to decide their season. A defeat for either team will spell danger for their ambitions to a playoff despite the season nearing its midway mark. Mumbai City is likely to edge past the NorthEast United, who will have to counter the fatigue of such long travel. The Hard Tackle predicts a win for Mumbai City FC