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With the Hero Super Cup inching closer by the second, the fans cannot seem to contain their excitement for the competition to kick off.
In a nutshell, the Super Cup is a knock-out competition that will be contested by sixteen teams. The top six clubs of India’s major football leagues – Indian Super League (ISL) and the I-League – qualify directly into the competition, whereas the bottom four of both the mentioned leagues battled it out to feature as a part of the competition.
The newly introduced competition is basically a replacement for the Federation Cup that was used to be India’s only knock-out football cup, and the madness begins on Saturday!
Here is a glance at the top five potential winners that could take the glorious prize home as the tournament makes its debut.
#5 NEROCA FC
After having a brilliant 2017-18 I-League season, the club from Manipur would be looking to clinch the Super Cup. NEROCA have had a top defence line this season with the club letting past just twelve goals throughout, and have the maximum clean sheets (nine in 17 games). Top goal-getter, Felix Odili will be looking to capitalize during the tournament after having netted a total of six goals for his club this season.
Having missed out on the I-League title by just three points to Minerva Punjab, the Indian Super Cup could be the perfect opportunity for the Manipurians to bounce back and come out triumphant in the competition.
#4 Chennaiyin FC
Freshly crowned Indian Super League champions, Chennaiyin FC would certainly be looking to double their trophy kitty this season. With the 'Mizo sniper' aka Jeje Lalpekhlua being in such massive form, the 27-year-old will have his eyes on adding some more goals under his name.
John Gregory’s men will be one of the top favourites to win the competition, and the gigantic family of the Supermachans constantly getting behind their men in blue would certainly add to the set of positives for them.
#3 Minerva Punjab
The radical squad that recently had their dream come true rose from being the underdogs to winning the 2018 I-League trophy in the most glorious fashion.
With their solid back four letting past just fourteen goals and having kept five clean sheets this season, the Punjabi team will be looking to bag a double this year. After scoring twenty goals throughout the I-League, and six of them coming from the foot of star man and leading scorer Chencho Gyeltshen, the Bhutanese youngster will have his eyes set on getting another bunch of goals under his belt.
#2 FC Pune City
The Stallions have been in super form this ISL season. Having finished at the 4th on the points table by missing out on 3rd to Goa only on goal difference, FC Pune City will be fan favourites to win the Indian Super Cup this year. With a talent-filled squad including the likes of Kean Lewis, Marcelinho and Emiliano Alfaro among many others, Pune have a great shot at taking the Cup home after missing out on the ISL trophy.
It will surely be a delight to watch manager Popovic give Kean Lewis a chance to link up with Orange Army’s top scorers of the 2017-18 ISL season.
#1 Bengaluru FC
After incurring the most difficult loss at home to direct rivals, Chennayin FC during the final of the Indian Super League (ISL), Bengaluru FC will be looking to avenge their defeat. With a star-studded squad containing the names like Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Miku, John Johnson, and the likes, BFC seem to be a top favourite among the fans, tipped to win the Cup.
Being the first Indian side ever to appear in an AFC Cup finale, the South Indian giants are one of the most successful football clubs in the history of Indian football.
