ATK Vs Jamshedpur FC: Men of Steel face key away test

The visitors on Saturday night have enjoyed a fine start to the campaign and are unbeaten in their three games so far.

ATK-Jamshedpur FC will be a battle between teams from the top half of the Indian Super League table this season. While ATK started their season with a loss, they have clawed their way back with consecutive wins. Whereas, Jamshedpur FC are unbeaten in their first three matches, including a draw against reigning champions Bengaluru FC. It will be a major boost for Antonio Habas' men, as they return to their home ground for the game. Their first home clash of the season saw them win 5-0 against Hyderabad FC. While Antonio Iriondo's Jamshedpur FC look like a team to beat this season, with their new foreign players and rejuvenated Indians also stepping up. ATK come into this game on the back of a 0-1 victory against Chennaiyin FC and the Kolkata-based outfit will look to continue their winning momentum. [KH_ADWORDS type="3" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]

The Stakes

The Kolkata-based outfit have engineerd a turnaround from their last season's disappointments, as they have already won two out of their first three games and will look to consolidate their position at the top of the points table. Antonio Habas would like to keep the winning momentum going into the international break, as he seeks to bank on the scintillating form of his attackers This will be Jamshedpur FC's first match away from home this season and it will be a difficult challenge for the Men of Steel. The club have gifted their passionate fans some positive attacking football, as they have earned seven points from their first three league fixtures. It has been a great start to life in India for Antonio Iriondo, as the Spaniard has shown the hunger to win matches and take the attack to the opposition. However, his biggest challenge will be to collect points on the road.

Team News

ATK Former East Bengal striker, Jobby Justin will be available for selection in this game after serving his ban. So, it will be interesting to see whether Habas will change his winning combination, just to include the forward in the starting XI. Jamshedpur FC The Men of Steel are also a very closely-knit unit, with Iriondo doing some necessary shuffling to keep the players fresh. However, Amarjit Singh Kiyam is still out injured. Summer signing CK Vineeth has also joined the youngster on the injury list.

Head-to-Head

ATK-Jamshedpur FC have faced each other four times in the past. They have won a match each, with the other two ending in draws. It has always been a closely-contested affair when these two teams have locked horns. So, one can expect a very cagey game at the Salt Lake Stadium this weekend, with two teams from the top half of the table meeting for the first time this season.

Man to Watch

David Williams (ATK) Most people in India were so hyped to see Roy Krishna, that they forgot about his partner in crime, David Williams. The Australian forward has been lively in his approach and despite scoring three goals from as many matches, his game is not restricted only in the final third. He has been tireless with his work-rate and has often dropped deep to orchestrate play and help his defenders recover possession. The big Aussie will again look to put his goalscoring boots on against Jamshedpur. Farukh Chaudhury  (Jammshedpur FC) Probably the best Indian player in this season's ISL till now, Farukh has exuded a different aura with his play. He has moved forward with confidence, scored goals, been in the right position and has even supported the likes of Sergio Castel and Piti in the final third with aplomb. With a goal and an assist from the first three games, Farukh could be the driving factor for Iriondo's men.

Probable Lineups

ATK Bhattacharya; Kotal, Garcia, Anas; Prabir, McHugh, Hernandez, Halder, Soosairaj; Williams, Krishna. Jamshedpur FC Subrata; Robin, Tiri, Memo, Jairu; Mobashir, Monroy, Piti, Jadhav; Castel, Farukh. [KH_RELATED_NEWS title="RELATED NEWS | ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]

Did You Know?

• This is Jamshedpur FC's best start to an ISL season (7 points from 3 matches). Earlier, their best was five points from as many games back in the 2018/19 season.
• ATK and Jamshedpur have conceded two goals each so far. They have also allowed more than 10 shots per game against them. So, with both sides having strikers in form, this could be a high scoring affair.
• With both teams having Spanish connections, certainly, these players and coaches are not facing each other for the first time. Edu Garcia (CD Ebro), has played against Antonio Iriondo during his time at R. Majadahonda in the Segunda Division B back in the 2015/16 season. The likes of Agus Garcia and Javier Hernandez from ATK have also played against Aitor Monroy and Tiri respectively, back in their time in the Spanish third tier.

Broadcast

ATK-Jamshedpur FC will be telecast live on the Star Sports Network starting 7:30 PM on Saturday. It will also be streamed on Hotstar and Jio TV.