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Defending champions ATK host Delhi Dynamos FC in Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Saturday. The two-time champions finally got their first win of the season, when they got the better of Mumbai City FC in their previous fixture, and will now look for a first home win. The Lions are rooted to the bottom after losing all of their previous four fixtures. Their only win of the campaign came in their opening day match-up at FC Pune City, and they would want another away win in Kolkata to get their campaign back on track. They will however miss the services of Gabriel Cichero who picked up a red in the encounter against FC Goa, last time out.
HEAD TO HEAD
ATK 1–1 Delhi Dynamos (4 draws)
KEY PLAYERS
Zequinha (ATK)
The Portuguese has been a livewire in the ATK attack. He seems almost unstoppable with the ball at his feet, and always seems to create an opening whenever involved. A pacey player with a good eyesight for picking out accurate passes, the 30-year-old assisted Robin Singh’s goal in his team’s win against the Islanders. He will once more be a key figure when ATK host Delhi.
Paulinho Dias (Delhi Dynamos FC)
The Brazilian has been one of the few bright spots in the Delhi team. He has patrolled the midfield well, taking forward a good many attacks, while also performing solidly when it comes to defensive duties. He anchors the middle, has good pace and has notched up a goal and an assist already. He will need to be at his best if the Lions are to get a favourable result.
POTENTIAL STARTING LINEUPS
ATK
Teddy Sheringham may opt for a more compact 4-2-3-1 formation, packing the midfield with bodies and a sole striker up front.
Goalkeeper: Debjit Majumder
Defenders: Keegan Pereira, Tom Thorpe, Jordi Montel, Prabir Das
Midfielders: Conor Thomas, Hitesh Sharma, Zequinha, Bipin Singh, Rupert Nongrum
Forward: Njazi Kuqi
ATK’s gaffer on the team’s mentality following their first win: “It was fantastic to get a win finally. The way we performed in the first four games, it was nice to get a win when we didn’t perform as well. It’s funny how football works. We battled, we did what we had to do to win the game and I was delighted with that approach.”
Delhi Dynamos FC
Miguel Portugal may deploy his team in a slightly narrow 4-1-4-1 formation as Delhi look to optimize their midfield against ATK.
Goalkeeper: Sukhdev Patil
Defenders: Munmun Lugun, Pratik Chowdhary, Sena Ralte, Pritam Kotal
Midfielders: Lallianzuala Chhangte, Paulinho Dias, Matias Mirabaje, Jeroen Lumu, Edu Moya
Forward: Guyon Fernandez
Delhi assistant coach Shakti Chauhan on the team’s preparation for the fixture: “We have been analysing each and every game. We know our weaknesses and where we have been lacking. We are working on our goal-scoring and defending also, so you are definitely going to see a different Delhi Dynamos tomorrow.”
KEY STATS
ATK’s Robin Singh and Delhi Dynamos’ Pritam Kotal are the only players in the current rosters to have played for both the sides
Only two fixtures out of six between the teams have ended up having a result. All the others have been draws
LAST ENCOUNTER
Delhi Dynamos 2–2 ATK (13th November 2016 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi)
