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The second season of the Hero Indian Super League will kick off tomorrow in Chennai with the defending champions Atletico de Kolkata being hosted by the toppers of the league stages from last year, Chennaiyin. Both managers made it clear that it is ultimately the result that will matter, and not the means taken to achieve the result.
Whether that means we will see a cagey encounter remains to be seen, but it definitely looks like an encounter that either manager would not like to lose.
Kickoff Time and Live Telecast
Channel: StarSports 1,2 StarSports HD1, HD2
Live Stream: starsports.com
Date and Time: Saturday, 3rd October 2015 – 1900 IST
Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai
Team News
Chennaiyin’s local midfielder Dhanpal Ganesh will miss a large part of this season due to the injury that he sustained during India’s World Cup Qualifier against Iran. Apart from that, there are also doubts over the fitness of new recruit, Fikru Teferra who reportedly picked up a groin strain in training, which could rule him out against his former club.
Marco Materazzi was highly impressed with the performances of Harmanjot Khabra and Jayesh Rane in pre-season in Italy, and singled out the former as being capable enough to possibly play in one of the European leagues. Materazzi also said that the entire squad looks sharp enough but singled out young Brazilian Bruno Pelissari as one who looked extremely ready.
For the visitors, coach Antonio Lopez Habas said that his side has a clean bill of health. Habas stressed on the need for tactical discipline and sticking to their plans. In Helder Postiga and Iain Hume, Kolkata have arguably the most potent strike force in the league. They have retained both Borja Fernandez and Ofentse Nato who anchored their midfield last season.
In the defense as well, Kolkata spent Rs. 90 Lakhs on Rino Anto, in addition to retaining the likes of Josemi and Arnab Mondal who formed a solid partnership at the heart of their defense. There is a huge Spanish influence in Kolkata’s squad this season.
Probable line-ups
Chennaiyin FC (4-3-3):
Apoula Edel, Abhishek Das, Eder Monteiro, Alessandro Potenza, Dhanachandra Singh, Harmanjot Khabra, Thoi Singh, Elano Blumer, John Stiven Mendoza, Bruno Pelissari, Jeje Lalpekhlua
Atletico de Kolkata (4-3-3):
Juan Calatayud, Denzil Franco, Josemi, Arnab Mondal, Rino Anto, Arata Izumi, Borja Fernandez, Javi Lara, Baljit Sahni, Iain Hume, Helder Postiga
Key Battles
Elano Blumer v Borja Fernandez
Elano will once again be Chennaiyin’s chief source of creativity. Borja will be the one tasked with stifling the Brazilian. Atletico, in general, would have to ensure they don’t give away free-kicks in dangerous areas because Elano is among the best in the business in putting them away.
Apart from tracking Elano, Borja will also be instrumental in keeping the flow of play going for Kolkata. Borja will be the one who would have to supply the ammunition to the likes of Postiga and Hume.
Iain Hume and Helder Postiga v Chennaiyin Defense
Helder Postiga is the youngest marquee player in the tournament, and Iain Hume was the Hero of the League last season. So, it is fair to say that they could potentially be the most potent strike force in the league. The Portuguese man still harbours ambitions of playing for his country, and Hume seemed confident that he’d be able to produce for Kolkata what he did for Kerala last year.
The Chennaiyin defense will probably have Brazilian Eder Monteiro partnering Italian Alessandro Potenza at its heart. With it being a largely new partnership, it could be one space that Kolkata could apply pressure on.
Prediction
With both teams being largely evenly matched and it being the first game of the season, it is likely that both managers will go into the game looking to avoid defeat. It could be a cagey encounter with maybe not a goal in it. Chennaiyin FC 0-0 Atletico de Kolkata
Betting Odds(Bet365)
Chennaiyin FC – 13/8
Atletico de Kolkata – 17/10
Draw – 9/5
