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Defending champions Atletico de Kolkata will play their first home game of the season against last season's runners-up Kerala Blasters FC. Atletico have started off well in the tournament with four points in two away games against Chennaiyin FC and FC Goa while Kerala Blasters sit second on the table with four points from two home games against NorthEast United FC and Mumbai City FC. A win for either team will take them to the top of the Indian Super League standings.
Atletico de Kolkata will have a special guest in attendance at the Saltlake Stadium, as legendary footballer Pele will be rooting for the home team.
Kick-off Time and Live Telecast
Live Telecast: Star Sports 2 & 3, Star Sports HD2 & HD3
Live Streaming: starsports.com
Date and Time: Tuesday, 13 October 2015 – 1900 IST
Venue: Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata
Team News
Atletico de Kolkata marquee signing Helder Postiga is still out with a hamstring injury while Spaniard Josemi is still not fully fit and it remains to be seen if he will start. The defending champions will also miss key defenders Arnab Mondal and Rino Anto who are on international duty. Botswana footballer Ofentse Nato is another player on international duty, and will miss the game. Baljit Sahni, who received a red card in the last game against FC Goa, is also suspended for two games and is likely to be replaced by Nadong Bhutia.
Ateltico de Kolkata (4-2-3-1): Amrinder, Franco, Tiri, Josemi, Augustin, Gavilan, Borja, Nadong Bhutia, Arata, Lara, Hume
Kerala Blasters will be without Sandesh Jhingan and Cavin Lobo who are out on international duty. Marquee signing Carlos Marchena has been declared fit and available for selection by head coach Peter Taylor while Arsenal youth product Sanchez Watt is expected to start ahead of Dagnall after his impressive cameo against NorthEast United FC.
Kerala Blasters (3-5-2): Bywater, Bheke, Ramage, Gurwinder, Perone, Vineeth, Mehtab, Pulga, Marchena, Watt, Manandeep
Key Battles
Iain Hume vs Gurwinder Singh
Canadian international Iain Hume will be up against his old teammates and he is yet to score a goal this season. He might give Indian international Gurwinder Singh a tough time with his brilliant work rate and trickery on the ball. Atletico de Kolkata boss Antonio Habas' hopes will be on Hume to do well in the absence of Postiga. On the other hand, Gurwinder Singh will be hoping to keep Iain Hume silent throughout the 90 minutes.
Sanchez Watt vs Josemi
Former Arsenal man Sanchez Watt will be up against massively experienced defender Josemi. Watt scored against NorthEast United after coming on from the bench and is expected to make his first start of the season.
Josemi, who also came on from the bench in Atletico de Kolkata's last game against FC Goa, could make his first start of the season and will have to be in top form to stop Watt. He might cause a depleted Atletico defence a few problems with his pace and trickery.
Prediction
Kerala Blasters FC boss Peter Taylor knows his side won't get a better chance to beat Atletico de Kolkata, who are without several key players, and we expect them to beat the defending champions on their home ground.
Predicted score: Atletico de Kolkata 0-2 Kerala Blasters FC
