Preview: ATK Mohun Bagan, Jamshedpur clash in League Shield decider

The winner will also qualify for the AFC Champions League.

ATK Mohun Bagan and Jamshedpur FC fittingly lock horns in a battle for top spot in the 2021-22 Indian Super League (ISL) at the PJN Stadium in Fatorda on Monday in the last league stage match of the season.

A Jamshedpur FC win or a draw against ATKMB would guarantee JFC the League Shield. ATKMB need to beat JFC by two or more goals to win the season's first piece of silverware. Jamshedpur have 40 points from 19 games while third-placed ATKMB have 37.

Jamshedpur are on a run of six straight wins, a win in their next game would see them become the first team in Hero ISL to win seven straight games. ATKMB have not lost in their last 15 games, avoiding defeat in the next game would make them the first team to go unbeaten in 16 games in ISL.

When Jamshedpur and ATKMB face each other, they are not fighting for the Shield alone. Both the teams are on the verge of breaking ISL records in their next game. For Jamshedpur, a win would mean they would become the first team ever to win seven straight ISL matches. After their last win, Jamshedpur joined Bengaluru FC on six straight wins as joint holders of his record. A win for Jamshedpur would see them break the existing record and create a new record.

The Stakes

Jamshedpur FC

Jamshedpur is also on the verge of breaking another record. They have accumulated 40 points in ISL 21-22, the joint highest a team has gained after the league stages of the Hero ISL (BFC in 2017-18, ATKMB and MCFC in 2020-21). A win or a draw would see the club create a new record.

Nigerian forward Daniel Chima Chukwu scored twice in Jamshedpur FC’s 5-1 win over Odisha FC as JFC are confirmed to finish in the top two. Chima has scored nine goals in ISL 21-22, 7 of which have been for Jamshedpur. Since Chima’s debut for JFC, no player has scored more goals in the league than him. Along with Greg Stewart, the duo have been lethal.

ATK Mohun Bagan

ATKMB have also been on a stellar run under Juan Ferrando and Roy Krishna finding his scoring boots in the last game only augurs well for the Mariners. Joni Kauko has also been in good form along with Liston Colaco and Manvir Singh being consistent throughout. The last time the two sides met, Jamshedpur edged past ATKMB by a 2-1 margin.

Team News

ATK Mohun Bagan will be without Michael Soosairaj, who sustained an injury in the last game. Hugo Boumous is also a doubt as he recovers from groin injury.

Owen Coyle will miss the services of last time's Hero of the Match Jitendra Singh. Boris Singh and Jordan Murray are likely to come from the bench owing to their fitness. Mobashir Rahman is suspended for another game and fined ₹1.25 lakhs after his red card against Hyderabad FC. Farukh Choudhury and Komal Thatal are likely to be out for the season.

Head-to-Head

ATK Mohun Bagan and Jamshedpur FC have met thrice in the ISL and the latter lead the H2H records with two wins in three of those meetings. In the reverse fixture this season, Jamshedpur FC defeated ATK Mohun Bagan 2-1 with goals coming from Seiminlen Doungel and Alex Lima for JFC and Pritam Kotal for ATKMB.

Predicted Lineups

ATK Mohun Bagan: Amrinder Singh (GK); Pritam Kotal, Sandesh Jhingan, Tiri, Subhashish Bose; Carl McHugh, Lenny Rodrigues; Manvir Singh, Joni Kauko, Liston Colaco; Roy Krishna.

Jamshedpur FC: Rehenesh TP (GK); Laldinliana Renthlei, Narender Gahlot, Peter Hartley (C), Ricky Lallawmawma; Len Doungel, Pronay Halder, Alex Lima, Ritwik Das; Greg Stewart, Daniel Chima.

Did You Know?

• Jamshedpur FC have won their last 6 consecutive games, becoming the second team after Bengaluru FC (in 2018/19) to achieve this feat in ISL history.
• Greg Stewart has the most goal contributions among any player in the ISL (20), and only player to hit double digits (10+10) for goals and assists this season.
• Tiri has made more interceptions (50) than any other player in the ISL so far this season.
• ATK Mohun Bagan have only defeated Jamshedpur FC once in 3 meetings in the ISL so far and haven't ever scored more than 1 goal against Owen Coyle's side.

Telecast

The match between ATK Mohun Bagan and Jamshedpur FC will be held at Fatorda, Goa on Sunday, January 9. The kick-off is set for 7:30 pm IST. The match will be telecast LIVE on the Star Sports Network and is available for streaming LIVE in the Disney+Hotstar platform and the JioTV app.

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