Flawless FC Pune City ready for tough Delhi Dynamos test at home

by Kaushal Shukla October 14, 2015

FC Pune City will be hoping to return to the top of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) charts after Champions Atletico de Kolkata leapfrogged them with a win over Kerala Blasters yesterday.  But it will take some doing to beat a strong looking Delhi Dynamos side who are fresh from a 1-0 win over Chennaiyin FC in their last game.

Roberto Carlos’ men will have their work cut out against a FC Pune City side who have a great record at home and are yet to drop any points this season. David Platt’s men have been efficient in both their games this season and have seized their opportunities well. The Punekars will once again need to be at their efficient best if they are to record a third straight win.

Form Guide and Head to Head Record

FC Pune City have made a 100% start to their campaign, after beating Mumbai City FC and NorthEast United at home. The Punekars are the only team to boast a clean record and will hope it continues beyond today. David Platt’s men, though will have to raise their performance against a Delhi Dynamos side who have the ability to punish them.

Delhi Dynamos have won one and lost one in the ISL so far, but their performances have been impressive. The Dynamos had an inspired second half performance against FC Goa but couldn’t make it count on the night as they went down to The Gaurs. But Roberto Carlos’ men put in a solid performance in their next game against Chennaiyin FC to win the game 1-0.

In terms of head to head, there is little between the two sides, but that little favours the visiting team, who eaked out a narrow 1-0 win, the last time they visited Pune to play FC Pune City. In the reverse fixture, the game ended goalless as both teams failed to make the semi-finals in season one.

FC Pune City would like to score their first goal against Delhi Dynamos today and would be hoping it would prove decisive as it did for Delhi last time out.

Team News

The FC Pune City fans might get to see Adrian Mutu and Tuncay Sanli play together upfront for the first time after David Platt rested Tuncay for the last outing. Israil Gurung who had two contrasting games is expected to get another chance on the right flank as Didier Zokora and Bailey are set to form the midfield. The back four is likely to remain constant as David Platt wouldn’t want to change too much from his winning combination.

Expected starting line up (4-1-3-2): Bhattacharya, Johnson, Shorey, Ravanan, Gurginder, Zakora, Gurung, Rodrigues, Bailey, Tuncay, Mutu

Delhi Dynamos seemed to have found a winning combination in the team that started against Chennaiyin FC and it doesn’t look like Roberto Carlos will change too much from that game. It won’t be a surprise if we see the same line-up take to the field against FC Pune City.

Expected starting line-up (4-5-1):Ghosh, Riise, Chicao, Edathodika, Ralte, Mulder, Malouda, Gustavo, Malsawmatulanga, Chakraborty, Gadze

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Predictions

FC Pune City 1-1 Delhi Dynamos

FC Pune City haven’t been too convincing in their opening two victories this campaign, but have produced the goods when it was needed. They might struggle to control the game against a strong Delhi Dynamos midfield and hence the Dynamos could take away a point from this one, if they could replicate their performance against Chennaiyin FC.