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Mumbai City FC entertain FC Pune City on Friday evening at Mumbai’s Dr. DY Patil Stadium in the second Maharashtra derby of the season. Mumbai City will be fresh after a week-long rest following their 1-1 draw in Delhi and will be looking to get a win under their belt after two games without one, especially playing on home soil.
David Platt will bring his Pune City side to Mumbai in a confident mood after a late goal from Adrian Mutu earned his side a point against leaders FC Goa. Pune City have managed to stay in the top four spots since the very first week when they beat Mumbai City FC 3-1. David Platt will be hoping for yet another win against Mumbai City FC today as FC Pune City look to close in on a semi-final spot.
Kickoff Timing and Telecast
Date & Time: 13th November 2015, 7 PM IST
Venue: Dr. DY Patil Stadium
Telecast: Star Sports 2 & HD2 (English), Star Sports 3 & HD3 (Hindi)
Live Streaming – www.starsports.com & Hotstar App
Team News
Mumbai City come into this game without two of their most impressive players this season. Sunil Chhetri is unlikely to feature after playing the full 90 minutes in India’s 1-0 win against Guam yesterday while winger Sony Norde too is away on international duty with Haiti. However, goalkeeper Subrata Pal and left back Lalchhuanmawia Fanai may be available for selection having not played any part in India’s win.
Coach Nicolas Anelka revealed that the Mumbaikars could see a bit more of him in the latter half of the season and he is likely to start for Mumbai City, mostly in a midfield role which Chhetri occupies usually. Subhash Singh and Gabriel Fernandes may come in to play on the wings for Mumbai as Frederic Piquionne is likely to continue his role up front.
Likely Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Subrata Pal, Kinshuk Debnath, Pavel Cmovs, Darren O’Dea, Lalchhuanmawia Fanai, Frantz Bertin, Cristian Bustos, Subhash Singh, Nicolas Anelka, Gabriel Fernandes, Frederic Piquionne
FC Pune City coach David Platt too will be without the services of midfielder Eugenson Lyngdoh and full-back Pritam Kotal who played for India against Guam yesterday. However, Bikas Jairu, who was na unused substitute in India’s win, might be available for Platt to select.
Kotal’s absence could see Ravanan play at right back while Tuncay Sanli and Kalu Uche could return to play up front for the Punekars. Bailey could continue in the midfield alongside Didier Zokora in Lyngdoh’s absence and Lenny Rodrigues is likely to return to his midfield role.
Likely Starting XI (4-4-1-1): Simonsen, Ravanan, Roger Johnson, Gourmangi Singh, Nickey Shorey, Lenny Rodrigues, Didier Zokora, Bailey, Jackichand Singh, Tuncay Sanli, Kalu Uche
Key Battles
Frederic Piquionne vs Roger Johnson
Frederic Piquionne has been quite impressive for Mumbai City in their recent games and has proved that he has goals in him. Piquionne worked his socks off against the Delhi Dynamos last week and also scored the goal which almost gave Mumbai a win in Delhi. With Chhetri absent, Piquionne will shoulder the responsibility of scoring crucial goals as they aim to get the bragging rights in the derby game.
Roger Johnson, on the other hand, has been a rock in the Pune City defence. He will be tasked with keeping Piquionne at bay and the former Premier League defender will look to bring all his experience to the table as he prepares to deal with another Premier League forward who has banged in a few in England. It promises to be an enticing battle between the two and one which could ultimately decide the outcome of the game.
Nicolas Anelka vs Didier Zokora
With Anelka expected to play in a midfield role in place of Chhetri against Pune City, it will pitch him directly against his old foe Didier Zokora. The duo might have crossed swords many times while playing for Chelsea and Tottenham respectively and are set to renew their rivalry in India.
Mumbai City couldn’t have found a better player to play in that midfield role and Anelka will be looking to pull the strings for his side. Mumbai would want Anelka to step up and show his true class and Zokora will have to stop that from happening. It is going to be a titanic clash in midfield between the duo and the Mumbaikars might get a glimpse of what it is like in England.
Prediction
Mumbai City FC might struggle to create enough chances in the absence of Sunil Chhetri and Sony Norde. Pune City have a knack of getting positive results and they might just nick a point from the game which will make Platt fairly pleased, considering it ticks off an away game without defeat.
Predicted score: Mumbai City 1-1 Pune City
