Patchy Chennaiyin FC looking for redemption against high flying FC Pune City
Marco Materazzi’s strongmen will be banking on their familiar home ground surroundings to get physiological edge against FC Pune City in the Hero Indian Super League clash in Chennai on Saturday.
Chennaiyin FC lost their opener at home against defending champions Atletico de Kolkata and has since then been on the road, winning two of their four matches played away.
FC Pune City on the other hand are playing their first game on the road after four straight home games which yielded ninepoints for the Punekars.
Form Guide & Head to Head Record
Chennaiyin FC come into the game on thr back of a controversial 2-0 defeat at the hands of NorthEast United, prior to which the Super Machand picked up two away wins in Mumbai and Goa. Chennaiyin FC have been patchy and it will be interesting to see which Chennaiyin FC turns up for this game.
David Platt’s men on other hand bounced back from a 2-1 defeat to Delhi Dynamos with a 1-0 win over Champions Atletico de Kolkata. But it will be the first taste of football on the road for FC Pune City and it will test the true credentials of FC Pune City.
In terms of head to head between the two sides, Chennaiyin hold the advantage and are unbeaten against FC Pune City in the two games played between the two sides. The Super Machans beat FC Pune City 3-1 in the corresponding fixture last season and will be hoping for more of the same when the two sides clash later today.
Team News
Both teams have no fresh injury worries, but the hosts will be without Harmanjyot Singh Khabra for today’s game after the Chennaiyin midfielder was red carded in the last game. Young forward Jayesh Rane who has been one of the emerging players in this ISL is likely to be rested with Jeje taking his place in the side.
Expected Line-up (Chennaiyin) – Apoula Edel, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Mailson Alves, Bernard Mendy, Dhanachandra Singh, Raphael Augusto, Thoi Singh, Godwin Franco, Elano Blumer, John Stiven Mendoza, Jeje Lalpekhlua
David Platt has no injuries or suspension to worry about but may rotate his squad to keep his team fresh.
Expected Starting Line-up: (FC Pune City)
Steve Simonsen, Pritam Kotal, Roger Johnson, Diego Colotto, Nicky Shorey, James Bailey, Lenny Rodrigues, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Jackichand Singh, Israil Gurung, Tuncay Sanli
Live Telecast Information
Star Sports 2&HD2 (English)
Star Sports 3&HD3 (Hindi)
Predictions
Chennaiyin FC 2-0 FC Pune City
Marco Materazzi’s men desperately need a result and home advantage could do the trick for them against FC Pune City
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