ISL 2023-24: Odisha FC, Chennaiyin FC seek change in fortune in new season

Odisha FC faced heavy defeat against Mohun Bagan in their last game

Odisha FC and Chennaiyin FC are set to face each other at Kalinga Stadium Bhubaneswar on September 23 for their first match in this year’s Indian Super League.

Football enthusiasts in Odisha have already witnessed their team's performance at the same venue a few days ago when they competed against the Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the AFC Cup. However, the upcoming ISL matches promise to bring even more excitement to the stadium.

Recent Performances

Despite the notable performance of the juggernauts in the previous ISL season and their qualification for the AFC Cup, they faced a sobering defeat at the hands of the dominant Mohun Bagan Super Giant in their inaugural AFC encounter with 0-4 goals.

Chennaiyin FC, two time winner of the Indian Super League, had a disappointing season last year. In fact, they finished in the eighth spot for two consecutive seasons. They registered a convincing 4-0 victory against Kalighat MS in a friendly match in July, followed by two consecutive draws against Mohammedan in July and earlier this month.

Coach

Sergio Lobera

Odisha FC is poised to take to the field under the guidance of their newly-appointed coach, Sergio Lobera. Lobera, an accomplished coach, brings a wealth of experience gleaned from his tenure in India. Over the course of four seasons, he steered FC Goa to remarkable success in three of them.

The appointment of Lobera in 2017 had an immediate and profound effect on the team, propelling them to the playoffs of the Indian Super League for three successive seasons. Furthermore, under his adept leadership, FC Goa achieved a triumphant victory in the 2019 edition of the Hero Super Cup.

Owen Coyle

After their lackluster performance in recent times, the Marina Machans have once again appointed their previous coach, Owen Coyle.

In his previous tenure in 2019, Coyle had a significant impact on the team, leading them to a commendable second place finish in the competition. With his return, the team is hopeful of replicating their previous success and aims to once again emerge as strong contenders under his expert guidance.

Head to Head

These two clubs have competed against each other on 18 occasions. Odisha FC have emerged victorious in seven matches, while Chennaiyin FC have secured three wins. The remaining 8 matches ended in a draw. The most recent meeting between the teams took place in February of this year, resulting in a 2-2 draw in the ISL clash.

Predicted Lineups

Odisha FC

Amrinder Singh (GK), Amey Ranawade, Sahil Panwar, Carlos Delgado, Mourtada Fall, Lenny Rodrigues, Ahmed Jahouh, Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Isak Vanlalruatfela, Roy Krishna, Diego Mauricio

Chennaiyin FC

Samik Mitra(GK), Sachu Siby, Bikash Yumnam, Sarthak Golui, Aakash Sangwan, Jiteshwor Singh, Cristian Battocchio, Rafael Crivellaro, Farukh Choudhary, Jordan Murray, Connor Shields.

Player to Watch

Amrinder Singh

The captain of Odisha FC has demonstrated tremendous prowess as their most prolific player. Leveraging his remarkable skills, the team successfully secured a spot in the playoffs during the previous season. Amrinder is highly regarded for his exceptional shot-stopping abilities, exhibiting quick reflexes and the requisite agility to make critical saves in one-on-one scenarios.

Rafael Crivellaro

34-year-old Rafael Crivellaro, has recently joined the Marina Machans following his stint at Jamshedpur FC during the latter half of the 2022-23 season. Notably, Crivellaro possesses exceptional dribbling and creative abilities that can effectively dismantle the opposition's defense. Furthermore, having previously captained Chennaiyin FC and playing a significant role in their runners-up finish in the 2019-20 season, Crivellaro brings valuable experience and leadership to the team.

Match Telecast

The match is going to be played at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar. The kick-off time is 5.30 PM IST. The game will be telecasted on Sports18 1, Sports18 1 HD, VH1 and VH1 HD TV channels.

Live streaming of the match will be on the JioCinema.