Now it's time for the second fixture of the three-month festival. The winners of the first two editions of the League will be going head to head in a very exciting match. Both Atletico de Kolkata and Chennaiyin FC will be looking to win the title again and prove they are the real Champions.
Also read: ISL 2016 Squads: List of all players in the respective teams
The side from Bengal will be having an advantage over their opponents because the match will be taking place in their den, the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium. However, Marco Materazzi and his men will be looking to repeat what they did to Kolkata in the first leg of the last season's semis.
Both teams have made a number of additions to their squad (Atletico de Kolkata even have a new manager) and will be having a new look to their Line-Up this season. Here is our predicted Line-Up for the much-awaited match.
Atletico de Kolkata probable XI:
The team owned by Indian cricket legend Sourav Ganguly had two very good seasons under Antonio Lopez Habas but the Spanish manager is no more at the club. Habas has been replaced by Jose Francisco Molina who is also Spanish.
Molina has retained some players and also has brought in some new faces. The former Villarreal player and manager has been given the task of bringing back the title that the team lost to Chennaiyin last season.
The 46-year-old is expected to play the 4-2-3-1 formation to maintain the balance and chemistry of the squad.
Molina will be handing the goalkeeping task to Indian youngster Debjit Majumdar who has joined the team this season despite heavy competition from Dani Mallo and Shilton Paul. Majumdar is expected to get the nod ahead of Dani Mallo because of the fact that Kolkata will have to maintain the foreign players limit.
The Bengal side have retained last season's centre back pairing of Arnab Mondal and Tiri. For the full back positions, Kolkata have Robert Lalthlamuana, Pritam Kotal, Kinshuk Debnath, Prabir Das and Keegan Pereira. Out of these players, the former Bengaluru FC defender Keegan Pereira is expected to start ahead of Lalthlamuana.
With Pritam Kotal, Kinshuk Debnath and Prabir Das in his team, Kolkata manager Jose Molina will be having a real headache when picking his right back. However, Kotal will be the preferred option for Kolkata's season opener on Sunday.
Molina is expected to go for a midfield five and Kolkata has retained their pivotal midfielders of last season, Borja Fernandez and Ofentse Nato. The two foreigners will be keeping their spots in the team's starting Line-Up. Kolkata have brought in former Kerala Blasters Midfielder Stephen Pearson who will be giving Borja and Nato a tough competition.
Three attacking midfielders are expected to play in front of Nato and Borja. Former Kerala Blasters player Iain Hume is expected to occupy the number 10 role while Javier Lara Grande and Indian midfielder Bikash Jairu will support from the sides.
Chennaiyin FC probable XI:
The Super Machans manager Marco Materazzi clearly stated in the team's squad launch that his target is to win the title and prove that their glory last season wasn’t based on luck. The Italian also stated in the event that the players who have been signed by the club this season have been hand picked by the former Inter Milan player himself. The Italian is very confident about his team despite the lose of key players like Stiven Mendoza and Elano.
Chennaiyin FC will be fielding a very strong side with the hope of striking from the beginning unlike last season when they had a very slow start. The former Italian player is also expected go with his preferred formation of 4-3-3.
Jamaican international Duwayne Kerr is expected to replace Apoula Edel who has joined FC Pune City for this season's Indian Super League. Indian goalkeeper Karanjit Singh will be the understeady to the 6'5" man.
Chennaiyin captain Bernard Mendy and marquee player John Arne Riise is expected to form the centre-back pairing against Jose Molina's men on Sunday. Dhanachandra Singh and Mehrajuddin Wadoo are expected to keep their places of last season as the full backs of the title defenders. The two Indians have been key for Chennaiyin in the past two seasons and Materazzi will be having full faith in them.
Materazzi won't have much trouble in picking his defence but the midfield will be a problematic area for the former Everton player. Chennai have foreign midfielders like Manuelle Blasi, Raphael Augusto and Hans Mulder in their squad. Indian midfielders like Baljit Sahni, Harmanjot Khabra, Dhanpal Ganesh, Thoi Singh and Siam Hanghal are also present in the team. Selecting three midfielders out of these eight players won't be an easy task for the Chennaiyin management staff.
Raphael Augusto was a pivotal figure in the Chennaiyin midfield last season and he will be keeping his spot in the Chennai starting eleven against Kolkata. Hans Mulder who had a great time with Delhi Dynamos for the last two seasons has now joined the title defenders. The Dutch midfielder is expected to be the second foreign midfielder to start along Raphael Augusto.
There will be a stiff competition between Baljit Sahni, Harmanjot Khabra and Thoi Singh for the third midfield spot. However, 27-year-old Khabra might get the nod ahead of the other two because the former East Bengal has been a part of the Chennaiyin squad for the past two seasons.
One of the front three spots will be obviously occupied Indian star Jeje Lalpekhlua. The 25-year-old was key for the Super Machans in their title-winning campaign last season and will be the same this season too.
Chennai have one spot left for a foreign player and that spot is expected to be filled by Italian striker Davide Succi. Materazzi will be putting his faith in his fellow countryman by handing him the number nine role.
Jayesh Rane could occupy the last spot in the starting eleven against Atletico De Kolkata on Sunday. Chennai have Nigerian forward Dudu in their squad but will be forced to play an Indian because of the foreign player limit. 23-year-old Rane will be hoping to take his opportunity and impress the manager.
For more articles like this and all news related to the wide world of Indian football, please click here. For ISL specifically click here. Let's Football.
