The Mumbai Football Arena will witness its first match of the 2018-19 season of Hero Indian Super League (ISL) on Tuesday as Mumbai City FC welcome home Jamshedpur FC. Both the clubs failed to make it to the playoffs in the 2017-18 edition, something which would be their primary target this season around.

There have been major changes in both sides over the course of the summer, with a plethora of new players being roped in to bolster the respective squads and the appointment of new head coaches to lead from the front. Thus, there really is no saying who has the upper hand going into the fixture.

 MUMBAI CITY FC

After finishing seventh last year, Mumbai City will want to climb up the ladder in the new term. The Islanders have appointed Jorge Costa as their head coach for the season. The Portuguese comes armed with a wealth of experience and will look to turn his side into a more resolute force in the league.

A host of defensive signings is sure to make Mumbai a tough nut to crack. With the likes of Amrinder Singh under the sticks and Lucian Goian, Subhasish Bose and Marko Klisura manning the backline, Jamshedpur might have a hard time to find a crack to score.

Former Delhi Dynamos midfielder Matias Mirabaje could also make his debut for Mumbai, alongside Bipin Singh and Paulo Machado in the middle of the mark. The front line bears a completely new look and it would be interesting to see whom Costa bestows the responsibility to lead the attack.

Here’s a look at Mumbai City’s 2017-18 season in numbers:

JAMSHEDPUR FC

Now in their second season in the league, Jamshedpur will be looking to build from their fifth-place finish last year. Cesar Ferrando has replaced Steve Coppell at the helm and the Spaniard has promised a new and refreshing brand of football at the club. However, new star signing Tim Cahill and veteran Subrata Paul will be unavailable for selection owing to suspensions.

One of Jamshedpur’s most renowned aspects from last year was their stinginess at the back. With Subhasish Roy, Raju Gaikwad, Tiri and Pratik Chowdhary in defence, we could be in for a similar solid defensive show this time around and Mumbai’s new attack may find it difficult to break through them.

In midfield, talented youngster Jerry Mawhmingthanga is likely to slot in alongside new signings Pablo Morgado and Carlos Calvo, who could be handed their Hero ISL debuts by Ferrando. With Cahill out of the equation, Sumeet Passi and Sergio Cidoncha are expected to lead the charge upfront.

Here’s a look at Jamshedpur’s 2017-18 season in numbers:

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Mumbai City FC: Amrinder Singh, Marko Klisura, Shouvik Ghosh, Anwar Ali, Arnold Issoko, Mohammed Rafique, Bipin Singh, Matias Mirabaje, Sanju Pradhan, Alen Deory, Rafael Bastos

Jamshedpur FC: Subhasish Roy, Yumnam Raju, Tiri, Raju Gaikwad, Karan Amin, Michael Soosairaj, Carlos Calvo, Pablo Morgado, Jerry Mawhmingthanga, Sumeet Passi, Sergio Cidoncha

DID YOU KNOW?

• Jamshedpur kept seven clean sheets last season, only Bengaluru and Chennaiyin kept more clean sheets.
• Jamshedpur’s Jerry Mawihmingthanga has scored the fastest goal in Hero ISL history in 22 seconds against Kerala Blasters in the 2017-18 campaign.
• Mumbai went winless against Jamshedpur last season (drawn 1 and lost 1).

FANS SPEAK

 Which coach will emerge victorious in their Hero ISL debut?

• Cesar Ferrando
• Jorge Costa

Have your say in the comments section below. 

Catch the match live on the Star Sports Network and Hotstar from 7:30 pm onward.