Chennaiyin FC will be hoping that a return to their home ground will help them get back to winning ways as they host Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.

Owen Coyle’s men have lost both their games so far and they have failed to score even once either. The Mariners, on the other hand, sit at the top of the table with six points from their couple of matches.

What’s at stake?

Chennaiyin FC

Coyle came back to Chennaiyin FC amidst much fanfare but he possibly needs more time for his ideas and philosophy to reflect on the pitch. The team has lacked incisiveness going forward and their backline needs further strengthening too. They will be banking on support from the home crowd to bag their first points from the campaign in this match.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant

Juan Ferrando has gotten his team to play his brand of football very swiftly despite some notable new additions. The signings have adjusted into the setup pretty seamlessly and they will now look to carry on their incredible run of form on the road too.

Key Players

Bikash Yumnam (Chennaiyin FC)

The centre-back has to ensure that the home team’s defensive unit is solidified to prevent any further passage of convenient goals for the opposition. Chennaiyin FC have already conceded five times in two games so far but Bikash has impressed with two clearances and tackles each along with an 84% passing accuracy.

Anirudh Thapa (Mohun Bagan Super Giant)

Anirudh Thapa returns to face the club that made him a household name in Indian football. Chennaiyin FC bid him an emotional farewell in the summer but the midfielder will be eager to showcase his skills and produce a performance to remember against the Marina Machans.

Head-to-Head

Played – 6

Chennaiyin FC – 1

Mohun Bagan Super Giant – 2

Draws – 3

Trivia: In his earlier tenure, Owen Coyle had joined Chennaiyin FC midway through ISL 2019-20 and sparked a remarkable turnaround to take them to the final of that season

Team Talk

“In terms of the league, if you look at the league right now, the teams that have started really well are the teams that have played two home games together. Obviously, the teams that have not had the best of starts are the ones that have played two away games barring Mumbai, who are a champion team. I think people look at results. As coaches, it’s important to win, but you need to look deeper. If you win, it doesn’t mean you are a great team and if you lose it doesn’t mean you are a bad team. There are reasons for it and you need to understand them and make sure you get better as you progress,” Chennaiyin FC head coach Coyle spoke about playing the team’s first home fixture of the campaign.

"It’s important to win three points. All the teams are doing well. Chennaiyin have lost their two matches but it’s their first home game so it will be difficult (for us). At this stage, the most important thing is to find the best lineup, the best squad. I think for us the most important thing is to think of the present. For me, it’s important that it’s not just about the physical condition but also the mental conditions for the players to be ready and motivated for these matches,” Mohun Bagan Super Giant head coach Juan Ferrando mentioned about the team’s target of taking all three points from the upcoming match. 

Where to Watch

Viacom18 is the new home of Indian football and the match between Chennaiyin FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant will kick off at 8 PM on October 7, 2023. Fans across the country can catch the action in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam. Fans can watch the action on linear channels like Sports18 Khel (Hindi), Sports18 1 SD & HD (English), VH1 SD & HD (English), Surya Movies (Malayalam), DD Bangla & Colors Bangla Cinema (Bengali). In addition to this, as part of FSDL’s partnership with OneFootball, ISL live streams and highlights of all matches of the upcoming 2023-24 season will be delivered across more than 190 countries.

ISL Fantasy

Top Picks & Players to Watch Out

Ayush Adhikari (5.1cr)

The midfielder has recorded an 83% passing accuracy in two ISL games this season.

Jason Cummings (10cr)

Has notched a goal and an assist each in his first couple of appearances in the ISL.

Vishal Kaith (5.9cr)

Has recorded an 80% passing accuracy and saved 75% of the shots he has faced this season

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