NorthEast United FC vs Chennaiyin FC lineups, team news, prediction & preview

Both teams will look to outwit each other to grab all three points.

The Indian Super League (ISL) returns to action after an international break and the focus shifts to Guwahati as NorthEast United FC gears up to host their arch-rivals Chennaiyin FC. Both sides have had decent starts to their campaign but will need to pick up pace from here on.

Just one point separates the two teams who have shown good composure and resilience in the early stages of the league. This will surely be a high-scoring fixture and has always been one of the games to watch out for in the ISL.

The Stakes

NorthEast United FC

The Highlanders will return to their base after a disheartening 3-3 draw against FC Goa where they gave away their lead twice. Juan Pedro Benali’s men have dropped seven points from winning positions in their last three games and this might come back to haunt them later. They’ve been really good up front, but need to sort out their disciplinary issues and keep things tight at the back.

Chennaiyin FC

The Marina Machans on the contrary have a game in hand coming into this match. They started their season with a motivating win over Odisha FC before facing a surprising defeat to Mohammedan Sporting and then a 0-0 draw against Hyderabad FC in their last outing. Chennaiyin FC haven’t found the back of the net in their last two games and will need to figure something out to solve their goal-scoring woes.

Injury and Team News

Robin Yadav won’t be available for the Highlanders after seeing a red card in the last game while Chennaiyin FC are expected to field a fully fit XI.

Head-to-Head

Total Matches Played – 22

NorthEast United FC Wins – 7

Chennaiyin FC Wins – 10

Draws – 5

ALSO READ: Alaeddine Ajaraie on NorthEast United journey, goal-scoring form in ISL & more

Predicted Lineups

NorthEast United FC (4-2-3-1)

Singh (GK); D. Singh, Akhtar, Zobaco, Samte; Bemammer, Mayakkannan; Jithin, Nestor, Thoi; Ajaraie

Chennaiyin FC (4-4-2) 

Mitra (GK); Renthlei, Edwards, Laldinpuia, Mukherjee; Choudhary, Shields, Hnamte, Brambilla; Chukwu, Yadwad

Players to Watch

Nestor Albiach (NorthEast United FC)

The Spaniard put the stage on fire in his side’s entertaining draw against FC Goa away from home. Nestor fired on all cylinders and produced his best performance of the season so far.

He scored a couple of goals and troubled FC Goa in every possible way. His attacking instincts coupled with his positioning and versatility make him an important asset for the Highlanders.

Farukh Choudhary (Chennaiyin FC)

Farukh will be the man to watch out for the two-time champions as they gear up for their fourth game of the season.

The Indian international has already scored a couple of goals for his side and is their top scorer in the league. Moreover, Farukh comes into this game on the back of a highly motivating performance for India where he scored a goal against Vietnam and will be keen to maintain the momentum.

Did You Know?

• NorthEast United have dropped seven points from winning positions this season.
• This fixture averages 3.8 goals per game.
• Six out of the last seven encounters between the two sides have witnessed Chennaiyin FC emerge victorious.

Telecast

The match between NorthEast United FC and Chennaiyin FC will take place at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on 17th October 2024. It will kick off at 7:30 PM IST.

The match will be shown live on Sports 18 and be available for streaming on Jio Cinema. International viewers can also watch the match on the OneFootball app.

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