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With qualification to the semifinals back in their own hands, Chennayin FC welcome Mumbai City FC to the Marina Arena, amidst a monsoon that has been relentless. Two wins from their last two games will assure Chennaiyin a spot in the last four, and the pursuit of those wins will begin against a Mumbai side, that are in the chase only mathematically.
Mumbai’s manager Nicolas Anelka made it clear that his side would fight till the end. “As long as there is a mathematical possibility of qualification, we will fight. Things haven’t gone ideally for us, and we have only ourselves to blame.”
For Marco Materazzi, the outlook before the game was a very pragmatic one. He said, “Obviously qualification is in our hands now, but that doesn’t mean that we can relax. We still have to go out, and play good football and get the points that we require.”
Kickoff and Live Telecast
Date and Time: Tuesday, 1st December 2015 – 19:00 IST
Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai
Channel: Star Sports 2 and 3, Star Sports HD 2 and HD 3
Live Stream: starsports.com
Team News
Chennaiyin FC
Harmanjot Khabra is suspended after picking up his fourth yellow card of the tournament in the 4-0 win over Delhi Dynamos. His discipline through this tournament has irked Materazzi.
The Italian said, “A player of his quality would be important to any side, and it is no different for us. He is one of our crucial players and him missing four and a half games out of 13 due to suspensions is disappointing.”
Materazzi has other injury concerns as well. Jayesh Rane has not yet fully recovered from his ankle problem, while Elano’s fitness remains a question, as the Brazilian has not started the last two games after picking up a knock in the away defeat to Atletico de Kolkata.
Manuele Blasi is expected to take Khabra’s place in midfield, with Edel Bete making way for Karanjit Singh to ensure the minimum number of Indian players are present.
Mumbai City FC
Anelka confirmed that he wouldn’t play as he has not yet recovered from an injury picked up earlier in the tournament. The Frenchman heaped praise on Sunil Chhetri, saying he couldn’t have asked for more from the Indian captain.
“I see Sunil more of a midfielder who scores goals, than as a striker. He is the ultimate professional, who always works very hard both in games and in training. I cannot complain about anything with Sunil. He is ideal.”
Anelka would have hoped for more goals from Sony Norde and Freddie Piquionne, but they haven’t done enough to support Chhetri who has got six goals in the tournament. Anelka bemoaned the lack of quality options in his side saying, “We haven’t got enough quality and that shows with our position on the table. We cannot deny that.”
Probable Lineups
Chennaiyin FC: Karanjit Singh, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Mailson Alves, Bernard Mendy, Dhanachandra Singh, Manuele Blasi, Raphael Augusto, Thoi Singh, Bruno Pelissari, John Stiven Mendoza, Jeje Lalpekhlua
Mumbai City FC: Subrata Pal, Aitor, Pavel Cmovs, Frantz Bertin, Lalchhuanmawia Fanai, Juan Aguilera, Selim Benachour, Sunil Chhetri, Subhash Singh, Gabriel Fernandes, Sony Norde
Key Battles
Stiven Mendoza v Pavel Cmovs
As always, Mendoza will be Chennaiyin’s leader going forward. The Colombian holds the Golden Boot, having scored ten goals in the tournament thus far. He linked brilliantly with Bruno Pelissari and Jeje Lalpekhlua in Chennaiyin’s last two games – both of which they won convincingly.
The experienced Czech, Cmovs will be the one tasked with trying to curb Mendoza’s threat. If he does manage to do that, it would help Mumbai no end, in their quest for a first ever away win in the league.
Raphael Augusto v Juan Aguilera
In recent games, Augusto has driven Chennaiyin with his power in midfield. Be it going forward or curbing opposition attacks, Augusto has come up trumps, and with a week’s break after Chennaiyin’s last game, Materazzi will hope that the Brazilian has his battery fully recharged, especially as Chennaiyin will miss the services of Khabra in this game.
Aguilera, on the other hand, has been patchy. He scored Mumbai’s goal in their last game – a 1-1 draw with Kerala Blasters. But in this game, more than going forward, Aguilera will have to be wary of the threat that Augusto poses in dangerous positions, and sort that out for Mumbai.
Prediction
Chennaiyin are the team in form, and hold the edge, having beaten Mumbai convincingly in all their three fixtures from last year. They have scored 10 goals in the 3 games, conceding only one. Nicolas Anelka might have to hope for a miracle, if Mumbai are to get their first ever away win in ISL history.
Score Prediction: Chennaiyin FC 2-0 Mumbai City FC
