After a good week’s break from the fast paced action of the Hero ISL, we are all set to dive into the deep end of the tournament with 3 back to back home matches. The first of which is against Atletico De Kolkata tomorrow, followed by the Maha Derby against Mumbai City FC on the 3rd and Delhi Dynamos on the 6th December.With 4 games left in the league stage of the tournament, this is the time to come all guns blazing and surely the home advantage will play a major part! Coach Franco Colomba will take great confidence from the fact that we beat Atletico De Kolkata at their home in the first leg. “The key to that victory was the right balance in our team” he had said at the time. Getting the balance right tomorrow will be key to starting the home run with a victory!Kostas Katsouranis, Davide Colomba and Dudu Omagbemi had found the back of the net last time around. A 4-4-2 formation could be ideal against Kolkata at home, with either Ivan Bolado or David Trezeguet being the other big choices upfront. The race to the top four is still wide open with any team practically still in the reckoning, but coach Colomba might have an eye on the goal difference to beat. Big players step up on big occasions and it would be interesting if Colomba sticks to the Kostas-Lenny-Wadoo trio in the midfield to mix steel with fluidity in the defence.Atletico De Kolkata have themselves run into a lukewarm form since their blazing start to the season. While they still sit second on the table with 16 points, they are reeling from the recent loss against Kerala Blasters and the successful duo of Fikru Teferra and Luis Garcia would be raring to find their goal scoring touch again. Enter the ever so dependable trio of Bruno Cirillo, Daniele Magliochetti and D Ravanan in the fray. With a good week’s time to prepare for this game, the defensive trio looks all set to guard the fortress of Balewadi.The friendly against DSK Shivajians gave a chance to the fringe players to prove their mettle too. Pratik Shinde got a good game time, as did goal keeper Lalit Thapa. Striker Joaquim Abranches who came on as a substitute against Goa as his debut in the Hero ISL made an instant impact and linked up well with Dudu. Coach Colomba, the master tactician that he is, surely has a few trump cards up his sleeve for the big clash tomorrow!Both the teams have all to play for as a win tomorrow for us, will not only send us closer to the top 4, but will also set the tone for the two remaining home games. A win for Atletico De Kolkata will see them reclaim the top spot from Chennaiyin FC.C’mon Punekars! It’s time to bring out those whistles and banners, rehearse the chants and dive into the madness at Balewadi! We fight till the final whistle and we live to win!
