Preview: Free-scoring Mumbai City take on resilient Chennaiyin FC

The Islanders are at the summit of the standings while the Marina Machans are still unbeaten in this campaign.

A high-octane clash awaits, as a free-scoring Mumbai City side take on a well-drilled defensive unit in Chennaiyin FC on Tuesday. The Islanders are currently top of the table, with 12 points from five games. The Marina Machans, on the other hand, occupy the fourth position with eight points from four matches.

The Stakes

Mumbai City FC

The champions are top of the table heading into this clash and will look to add another jewel to their crown with a victory. Des Buckingham’s buoyant side have scored 16 goals, with four of those coming in their last fixture against Jamshedpur FC. However, they haven’t kept a clean-sheet since the first match against FC Goa. They will be looking to win this match and in doing so, show doubters that they mean business.

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Chennaiyin FC

Chennaiyin FC will be looking to get back on the scoresheet and get away with a win this time around, as they come off the back of a 1-1 draw with ATK Mohun Bagan. Head coach Bozidar Bandovic has rued the lack of finishing. However, his team’s defence remains watertight, with only two goals conceded but a mere four scored in four outings. They will look to further their unbeaten streak with a win and move up the table.

Team News

Apart from left-back Vignesh Dakshinamurthy, who has been injured since he came off in the first half of the opening match against FC Goa, head coach Des Buckingham has the luxury of choosing his starting XI from a fully fit batch of players.

Bozidar Bandovic will also be able to field his preferred XI, as Rafael Crivellaro remains the only odd absentee in the full roster for Chennaiyin FC.

Head-to-Head

Mumbai City and Chennaiyin FC have met each other 14 times, with the Marina Machans winning on six occasions. The Islanders follow suit with five wins, whereas the remaining three matches have ended in draws.

Last season their first meeting yielded a 2-1 victory for Mumbai City FC. It was followed by a 1-1 stalemate in the second clash.

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Probable Lineups

Mumbai City FC (4-2-3-1): Nawaz (GK); Ranawade, Fall, Bheke, Rao Dessai; Lalengmawia, Jahouh; Vikram Pratap Singh, Gabriel, Bipin Singh; Angulo.

Chennaiyin FC (3-5-2): Kaith (GK); Borysiuk, Damjanovic, Das; Reagan Singh, Thapa, Koman, Vanspaul, Lalrinzuala; Gikiewicz, Chhangte

Man To Watch

Igor Angulo (Mumbai City)

The Spanish forward has already laid claim to a permanent spot for the man to look out for in his team. After winning the Golden Boot in his debut ISL season, Angulo is aiming for a second consecutive award. He is tied with Bartholomew Ogbeche on five goals each (after five matches) at the top of the goalscoring charts.   

Chennaiyin FC will look to replicate Hyderabad FC when they kept the Athletic Bilbao graduate quiet for the entirety of the match earlier in ISL 2021-22. Angulo will surely look to test the league’s strongest defence so far with his intelligent runs, link-up play and challenge them more frequently with his lethal finishing quality. 

Vladimir Koman (Chennaiyin FC)

The former Monaco and Sampdoria trequartista has hit the ground running in his debut ISL season with Chennaiyin FC. The attacking midfielder already has two goals, registering his first on his debut in the form of a spot-kick.

Despite the presence of more electric and nimble-footed attackers in the mould of Anirudh Thapa and Lallianzuala Chhangte, Koman is the more versatile midfielder and turns out to be the catalyst for the team. What will be interesting to see is how Mumbai City handle his surgical execution in passing and his ability to elevate the tempo of the game massively, as he rarely takes more than three touches on the ball, before relaying it to a teammate.

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Did You Know?

• Apart from being league leaders, Mumbai City have the best goal-difference in ISL 2021-22 (+9).
• Chennaiyin FC are on a four-match unbeaten streak. They also boast the tightest defence in the league so far, as they have only conceded twice in this season.
• Out of all their encounters, Mumbai City were on the receiving end of a red card on two consecutive occasions, leading to a draw and a loss in those fixtures.

Telecast

The clash between Mumbai City FC and Chennaiyin FC will take place on Wednesday, December 15 at the Fatorda Stadium. The kick-off will be at 7:30 pm (IST). Star Sports Network will live telecast the game, while live streaming will be available on the Disney+Hotstar platform and the Jio TV app.

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