Image Courtesy: Indian Super League Media Team
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Chennaiyin FC
V.
FC Pune City
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai
October 24th, 2015, 1900 IST
Another mouth-watering encounter in the Hero ISL sees Chennayin FC take on the high-flying FC Pune City at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.
Team News and Tactical Brief :
Chennayin FC
After a dicey start to their campaign, Chennayin FC will be looking to finally gain some momentum. The hosts are on the back of a 2-0 loss to Northeast United FC, and with six points from five matches, Chennayin FC will want to shift up a gear and win in front of their home fans.
Stiven Mendoza, this season’s top scorer is in the form of his life and he is certainly a player to watch out for alongside the midfield maestro Elamo Burmer.
Chennayin FC coach Marco Materazzi’s tactics backfired in the previous game, and he will have to come up with something different this time around, if he has to get the better of David Platt’s men.
Materazzi will mostly employ a 4-4-2 diamond formation with Fikru playing alongside the already formidable Mendoza.
Probable lineup: Karanjit Singh, Wadoo, Potenza, Mendy, Ralte, Khabra, Thoi, Ganesh, Elano, Mendoza, Fikru.
FC Pune City
David Platt and his men have played beautifully so far, with wins against Mumbai City FC, Northeast United FC and last season’s champions Atletico de Kolkata. They could go top of the table with a win today, and with the kind of form they are in, one wouldn’t want to bet against them.
Platt has been changing his personnel and tactics in almost every game this season, and that has left the other teams guessing his next move.
Tuncay Sanli, FC Pune City’s star player, is expected to spearhead the line-up yet again, with the match winner of last match, Jackichand, feeding in crosses from the left wing. Mutu has still not clicked for the Maharashtra outfit, but being a marquee signing makes it tempting to think he will come up with the goods at some point.
Israil Gurung has provided some important assists this season, and he could be getting a start as his crosses from the right wing could give Chennayin all kinds of problems.
The visitors are expected to start with a 4-1-2-3 formation, with captain Didier Zakora sitting in front of the defence, and Lenny Rodrigues and Bailey playing behind Tuncay Sanli.
Probable lineups: Bhattacharya, Shorey, Gourmangi, Johnson, Ravanan, Zakora, Bailey, Lenny, Jackichand, Gurung, Tuncay.
Prediction:
Chennaiyin 2-1 FC Pune City
After three losses and just two wins, from their first five game, Chennaiyin would be eager for a good showing in front of their home crowd. They certainly have team that is strong enough to put in a good performance, and beat the best teams in the league. With the Marina Arena crowd behind their back, they might just end up going for the jugular.
