AFC Champions League: Mumbai City FC set to host mighty Al Hilal

Al Hilal will be missing out services of Neymar Jr as he is out with a torn ACL and meniscus

Mumbai City FC and Al Hilal are gearing up for an epic showdown at the DY Patil stadium on Monday, November 6th. Just two weeks ago, The Islanders suffered a devastating 6-0 defeat on foreign turf at the hands of the Saudi football powerhouse.

Des Buckingham and his team are acutely aware of the formidable challenge posed by Al Hilal. The Saudi-based club is arguably Asia's finest, and their track record certainly supports that claim. Al Hilal currently boasts a remarkable 7 points in the AFC Champions League 2023-24, while the Islanders are still waiting for their first victory. 

The Stakes

Al Hilal

Jorge Jesus' team has been absolutely exceptional in both the AFC Champions League and the Saudi Pro League. Remarkably, it appears as though they don't even miss Neymar, given their impressive performances in both competitions. Their prowess and determination have been truly remarkable.

With their remarkable performances, the Saudi-based outfit doesn't have much at stake when facing Mumbai City FC. They've already humbled The Islanders before and seem determined to repeat their success once again. 

Mumbai City FC

On the contrary, Mumbai City FC has a lot on the line when facing Al Hilal. Des Buckingham's team finds itself at the bottom of the AFC Champions League, with no points secured so far. The Islanders endured a forgettable night against the Saudi powerhouse at the King Fahd stadium just two weeks ago when they conceded six goals.

Even though this time the Mumbai giants will have the support of their home crowd, defeating Al Hilal requires a completely different strategy and a strong comeback effort.

Injury & Team News

Mumbai City FC boasts a complete and healthy roster. Visitors Al Hilal will however miss the services of Brazilian superstar forward Neymar Jr.

Head-to-Head

The last time Mumbai City FC and Al Hilal faced each other, the Saudi based club thrashed The Islanders 6-0.

Predicted Line-ups

Al Hilal (4-5-1)

Yassine Bounou, Saud Abdulhamid, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ali Albulayhi, Yasser Alshahrani, Sergej Milinković-Savić, Ruben Neves, Malcom, Michael, Salem Aldawsari, Aleksandar Mitrović

Mumbai City FC (4-2-3-1)

Phurba Lachenpa (GK), Rahul Bheke, Rostyn Griffiths, Tiri, Akash Mishra, Apuia, Yoëll van Nieff, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Greg Stewart, Bipin Singh, Jorge Pereyra Diaz.

Players to Watch

Greg Stewart (Mumbai City FC)

The Scottish international made his mark in the ISL 2023-24 season by scoring a spectacular long-range goal against Punjab FC. Greg Stewart plays a pivotal role for Des Buckingham's team, taking charge of game strategy, aiding in play development, and skillfully advancing the ball.

Aleksandar Mitrovic (Al Hilal)

The individual who struck fear into Des Buckingham and his team during their encounter in Riyadh, the same player who scored an incredible hat-trick against The Islanders, which included a breathtaking bicycle kick, is poised to pose a challenge for Mumbai City FC at the DY Patil Stadium.

Did You Know?

• Neymar will be sidelined for a duration of 9 months after suffering a complete tear of his ACL and meniscus.
• Mumbai City FC specifically changed their home ground from the Balewadi Stadium in Pune to the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai in order to accommodate more fans.
• Mumbai City FC are yet to open their AFC Champions League 2023-24 account.

Telecast

The match between Al Hilal and Mumbai City will take place at the DY Patil stadium in Navi Mumbai, on November 6th, 2023 (Monday). The kick-off time is 7:30 pm IST. The game will be telecasted live on Sports 18 network. Fancode and JioTV will also stream the match.