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Match week 6 of Indian Super League gets underway with a battle between NorthEast United FC and Mumbai City FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday. The Highlanders currently occupy ninth spot in the points table with four points from their first five games, while the Islanders have managed to take seven points from their six matches and are currently in fifth place. NorthEast will also be without the services of goalkeeper TP Rehenesh after he received a red card in their last outing. Both teams will look to bounce back after disappointing 1-0 losses in their previous match, making Wednesday’s encounter a mouth-watering clash as the sides look to get their ISL 2017-18 campaign on track.
HEAD TO HEAD
NorthEast United FC 2 – 2 Mumbai City FC (2 draws)
KEY PLAYERS
Marcinho (NorthEast United FC)
Brazilian attacker Marcinho has been one of NorthEast’s most potent attacking outlet in an otherwise lacklustre campaign. Marcinho’s been constantly involved in most attacks going forward for the Highlanders and has been unfortunate to find the woodwork quite frequently this campaign. His guile with the ball has already seen him net once this season but NorthEast will be expecting much more from the Brazilian.
Everton Santos (Mumbai City FC)
Everton Santos has gone about his business for Mumbai in ISL 2017-18 in a quiet but effective manner. The versatile Brazilian has featured in all of the Islanders’ six matches so far and has become one of Mumbai’s most reliable players in attack. He has scored once and assisted twice, which further illustrates his importance to Mumbai.
POTENTIAL STARTING LINEUPS
NorthEast United FC
Joao de Deus will probably use the 4-5-1 formation as NorthEast look to take the game to Mumbai with the home crowd behind them.
Goalkeeper: Ravi Kumar
Defenders: Reagan Singh, Jose Goncalves, Sambinha, Nirmal Chettri
Midfielders: Halicharan Narzary, Rowllin Borges, Odair Fortes, Marcinho, Lalrindika Ralte
Forwards: Danilo Lopes
NorthEast’s head coach on his team’s overall quotient: “Our defence is the second-best in the league. We have a strong defence but sometimes we suffer from mistakes or from situations which don’t have anything to do with the backline, as happened in the game against Kerala. In the attack also we have a problem, as we have scored only twice till now. But we are working to change that and I believe we can change that at any moment. Of course, it is a concern if we don’t score, but everybody realises that. I hope in a couple of games, we will all stop speaking about it.”
Mumbai City FC
Alexandre Guimaraes may make use of a 4-5-1 formation with the Islanders looking to cope with the hosts’ early pressure before launching a few attacks of their own.
Goalkeeper: Amrinder Singh
Defenders: Raju Gaikwad, Lucian Goian, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Gerson Vieira
Midfielders: Everton Santos, Rafa Jorda, Abinash Ruidas, Achille Emana, Sehnaj Singh
Forwards: Balwant Singh
Mumbai’s head coach on the injury concerns in his team: “The medical department have been doing a great job recovering the players that have been out. We have with us players who didn’t have the chance to travel with the team. But at least one of them will be part of the 18. So, this is good for us.”
KEY STAT
● The Highlanders haven’t managed to secure a win at home in ISL 2017-18
LAST ENCOUNTER
NorthEast United FC 0-1 Mumbai City FC (5th November 2016 at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati)
