Mumbai City FC will look to extend their three-match winning streak when they host ATK in Match 38 of the Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2018-19 at the Mumbai Football Arena on Saturday. Both teams are in contention for a playoff spot and a positive result in the match can go a long way in solidifying their positions in the table.

The two have met ten times in the Hero ISL in the past and both teams have come out on top on four occasions.

Mumbai City FC

After somewhat of a mixed start to the season which saw them lose two, win one and draw one in their opening four fixtures, Jorge Costa's men hit their stride in the fifth match against Delhi Dynamos FC and haven’t looked back since. The Islanders dispatched the Lions 2-0 at home and then went on to register back-to-back away victories against Chennaiyin FC and NorthEast United FC respectively. A big reason behind Mumbai's upturn in form has been their defence, which hasn't conceded a single goal in the last three matches. The Islanders' back line, led by Lucian Goian and Subhasish Bose, has looked like a solid unit lately. Joyner Lourenco came into the starting line-up after Mumbai's 5-0 loss against FC Goa and has been a revelation alongside Goian and Subhasish. The combative approach of Sehnaj Singh and Milan Singh in the midfield also adds a layer of security to Mumbai's defence. The ATK forwards will have to work hard if they want to score on Saturday.

Mumbai managed just three goals in their first four matches this season. However, a developing chemistry between Modou Sougou and Arnold Issoko up front has made the Islanders look more dangerous going forward in their last three outings. The duo has contributed five of Mumbai's seven goals so far and will worry an ATK defence, which is prone to leaking goals.

Here’s a look at Mumbai’s current season in numbers:

ATK

Two-time Hero ISL champions ATK have had an inconsistent start to their season, winning three, losing three and drawing one of their seven fixtures. ATK's victories so far have come against Delhi, Chennaiyin FC and FC Pune City - the bottom three sides in the league table this season. Steve Coppell's men will be eager to prove their mettle and put in a good performance against an in-form Mumbai side. In what was a big blow, ATK recently lost star striker Kalu Uche because of an injury. The forward has gone back to Barcelona for treatment and will not be available until January at least. The team management acted quickly to rope in Emiliano Alfaro on a loan deal from Pune, but even the Uruguayan seems to have picked up an Achilles injury of his own and might be sidelined for some time.

With both Uche and Alfaro out, ATK will be looking at Manuel Lanzarote and Balwant Singh to provide the goals against a strong Mumbai defence.

Here’s a look at ATK’s current season in numbers:

PROBABLE LINE-UPS:

Mumbai City FC: Amrinder Singh (GK), Sauvik Chakrabarti, Joyner Lourenco, Lucian Goian, Subhasish Bose, Sehnaj Singh, Paulo Machado (C), Milan Singh, Modou Sougou, Arnold Issoko, Rafael Bastos

ATK: Arindam Bhattacharja (GK), Aiborlang Khongjee, Andre Bikey, John Johnson, Ricky Lallawmawma, Pronay Halder, Gerson Vieira, Everton Santos, Komal Thatal, Manuel Lanzarote (C), Balwant Singh

DID YOU KNOW?

• Mumbai have won 4 matches so far and kept clean sheets in all of them.
• Mumbai are the only team who are yet to score a goal from a header this season.
• ATK have scored only four goals from inside the box so far – the least in the league.

FANSPEAK

Which player will have the biggest impact in the match?

• Arnold Issoko
• Manuel Lanzarote
  

Catch the match live on the Star Sports Network, Hotstar and Jio TV from 7:30 PM