ISL 2023-24 Final: Mohun Bagan vs Mumbai City FC: Preview, Predicted lineup, injury news, H2H, telecast details

Mohun Bagan and Mumbai City FC will clash in yet another ISL final.

Follow the Live Action: Mohun Bagan vs Mumbai City FC

The 2023-24 Indian Super League (ISL) final is almost upon us! Mohun Bagan and Mumbai City FC are set to take flight at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata on Saturday (May 4) in the aim to clinch the ISL trophy. This will be the third time that these two teams meet in the competition, having picked up one win apiece so far. But with the ISL trophy standing as the prize at the end of the game, both sets of players will be geared up for a feisty and dramatic battle to crown themselves as the champions.

The Stakes

Mohun Bagan

The Mariners have already had a highly successful season. After winning the Durand Cup under Juan Ferrando, they made a dramatic comeback in the second leg of the ISL season to clinch their first-ever ISL shield championship. But now, Mohun Bagan have the chance to complete the ‘Treble’ – which includes the ISL shield, the ISL trophy and the Durand Cup.

That will serve as the biggest motivation for the players to produce their best performance in the final. They are determined to prove themselves as the undisputed best in India, and winning this tie will help consolidate this status. A loss, with home advantage in a final with over 60,000 fans, can be particularly gutting and will end their campaign on a bitter note – something which the players will definitely not want to turn into reality.

Mumbai City FC

Mumbai City FC have had a season full of highs and lows so far. Despite leading the ISL table for a long part of the campaign, they lost out on the ISL shield. The Islanders also came up short in the Durand Cup and the Super Cup, and the ISL trophy is their only remaining shot at winning a title in the 2023-24 season.

That is a big reason why Petr Kratky’s side will try to significantly improve their performance levels to win this. They need to be more clinical and defensively astute in the final than they were in the last game against Mohun Bagan. Mumbai City need to show more hunger and desire to win this, and outwork the hosts to silence the home crowd. The Islanders are aware of how a loss could result in a bitter trophyless campaign, and also ensure they won’t play in Asia next season – which is why the pressure is high on them to get the win.

Injury & Team News

Mohun Bagan’s Armando Sadiku is suspended for the ISL final after being dealt a hefty ban for his sending-off in the first-leg of the ISL semi-final against Odisha FC. Akash Mishra and Iker Guarrotxena are unavailable for the Islanders.

Head-to-Head

Matches Played – 9

Mohun Bagan wins – 1

Mumbai City wins – 6

Draws – 2

Predicted Lineups

Mohun Bagan (3-1-4-2)

Vishal Kaith (GK), Anwar Ali, Hector Yuste, Subhasish Bose, Abhishek Suryavanshi, Manvir Singh, Joni Kauko, Anirudh Thapa, Liston Colaco, Dimitri Petratos, Jason Cummings

Mumbai City FC (4-3-3)

Phurba Lachenpa (GK), Rahul Bheke, Thaer Krouma, Tiri, Mehtab Singh, Yoell van Nieff, Apuia Ralte, Jayesh Rane, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Vikram Pratp Singh, Jorge Pereyra Diaz

Players to Watch

Dimitri Petratos (Mohun Bagan)

Dimitri Petratos has been a driving force for the Mariners and a core reason behind all their success. With 15 goals and 11 assists in 34 appearances so far, the 31-year-old has been one of their players of the season. But the biggest standout quality in Petratos is how he can tap into his best form in big games. He has excelled in multiple major matches this season and produced two assists in the last game against Mumbai City.

He scored the winner in the Durand Cup final and also scored key goals in wins against East Bengal and FC Goa. Petratos looks to be loving his role in this Mohun Bagan squad, where he can operate all over the opposition half. He needs to use his clever movement and link-up play to cause trouble for the Islanders again and keep his side on the front-foot. Petratos must nail his final passes and set-piece delivery to create major chances and also get at the end of chances to enhance his side’s goal-scoring ability in the final.

Lallianzuala Chhangte (Mumbai City FC)

Lallianzuala Chhangte is heading into the ISL final on the back of some hot form. He has scored six goals in the last five appearances for the Islanders and will need to be at his very best in the ISL final. With 11 goals to his name so far this season, Chhangte has arguably been Mumbai City’s best player and can consolidate that with a clinical display in the ISL final.

Chhangte has to be smart with how he operates on the right-wing, time his runs correctly and move into the empty pockets of spaces to destabilize the opposition’s backline. Most important, however, the India international has to be inch-perfect with his shots on goal and finishing off whatever chances he gets. Mumbai City will need Chhangte’s ruthlessness to improve their chances of winning and for their star winger to prove his quality on the biggest stage.

Did you know?

• Jason Cummings is currently on 11 goals in the ISL this season. He needs to score a hat-trick in the final to win the ISL Golden Boot.
• Lallianzuala Chhangte is the first Indian player to have scored 10+ goals in multiple Indian Super League seasons.
• Dimitri Petratos has created 59 goal-scoring chances in the ISL so far this season, the second-most for any player and just one less than Brandon Fernandes.
• Phurba Lachenpa and Vishal Kaith are both tied on nine clean-sheets in this campaign, meaning whoever can keep one in the final will win the ISL Golden Glove.

Telecast

The ISL final – Mohun Bagan vs Mumbai City FC game kicks off at 07:30 PM IST, at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on May 4, 2024. Live telecast of the fixture will be available on the Sports18 Network (Sports18 1/VH1 Channel). Live streaming of the game will be available on the JioCinema app. Viewers from abroad can use OneFootball to stream the game.

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