Matchday 47 of the 2015 Hero Indian Super League (ISL) will see Mumbai City FC hosting Kerala Blasters FC at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Both teams head into Thursday’s encounter knowing fully well that nothing less than a win can keep their semi-finals hopes alive. Neutrals can expect a fast-paced and attacking match where both teams will be gunning for a result as they bid to keep their Hero ISL dreams alive.

Form Guide (Last 5 matches)

Mumbai City FC: L-D-D-L-L

Kerala Blasters FC: D-W-L-W-L

Head-to-Head: Mumbai City FC won the first-ever match between these two sides 1-0 at the DY Patil Stadium last season. Later in the season, Mumbai travelled to Kochi and played out a goalless draw. Earlier this season at Kochi, there was another goalless draw.

Pavel Cmovs vs Chris Dagnall

Pavel Cmovs will be pivotal to Mumbai’s cause on Thursday. The fleet-footed centre-half from the Czech Republic will come up against the pacey duo of Antonio German and Chris Dagnall. Cmovs, who is pretty quick himself, will be hoping to keep a clean sheet against them. His 76 clearances this season is the most by any player from Mumbai.

The Blasters will be looking for inspiration from Chris Dagnall who has been their form player this season. Dagnall’s pace has helped him expose many a defence this season. His five goals and two assists bear testimony to that. His ability to drift into spaces in the wide areas and put in dangerous crosses into the box is another trait which Mumbai cannot afford to ignore.

Sony Norde vs Josu

The return of Sony Norde from national duty to Mumbai comes as a massive boost to the Maharashtra-outfit. He played in the second half in their last match against NorthEast United FC and was one of the shining lights for the team in a 2-0 defeat. Norde’s pace and ability to dribble past a cluster of bodies will be a major threat to Kerala.

Josu has been the linchpin in the Blasters midfield this season. The young Spaniard’s guile and poise on the ball has seen him create innumerable chances for the men in yellow this year. Josu has made more assists than any other player from Kerala (3) and has also chipped in with a goal against NorthEast United FC which has to be one of the strikes of the season so far.

Frederic Piquionne vs Sandesh Jhingan

Frederic Piquionne will have to shoulder the burden of leading Mumbai’s frontline alongside Sunil Chhetri and marquee player-cum-coach Nicolas Anelka. Piquionne has been one of his side’s most potent attacking threat this season, having netted thrice for Mumbai so far. His ability to hold up the ball also enables Mumbai’s wingers to make their darting runs in behind opposition defences.

Sandesh Jhingan’s pace at the back will be key if the Blasters hope to stop a pacey Mumbai attack. Jhingan’s ability to sense danger and dominate in the air has cemented his spot in the Kerala back-line. The youngster is also comfortable on the ball with a passing accuracy of 84% and has made 64 clearances in Season 2.

Quotes:

We expected to be in the top four. It’ll be very hard to reach the target. But still we’re hoping for a better place because mathematically, we still have a chance and now, we have to win three games. So we start first with the Kerala game, and take one step at a time: Mumbai marquee player-cum-coach Nicolas Anelka

We’re going out to attack. There is no use going out there and just defending. We have to get the ball, go attack and win the game: Kerala head coach Terry Phelan

Squads:

Mumbai City FC: Subrata Paul, Albino Gomes, Debjit Majumder, Kinshuk Debnath, Darren O’Dea, Pavel Čmovš, Keegan Pereira, Lalchhuanmawia Fanai (Chhuantea), Frantz Bertin, Rowilson Rodrigues, Aitor Fernandez Lopez, Gabriel Fernandes, Juan Aguilera Nunez, Brandon Fernandes, Selim Benachour, Cristian Bustos, Saran Singh, Pratesh Shirodkar, Sampath Kumar Kuttymani, Ashutosh Mehta, Singam Subash Singh, Nicolas Anelka (Marquee & Manager), Sony Norde, Sunil Chhetri, Frederic Piquionne

Kerala Blasters FC: Stephen Bywater, Rahul Shankar Bheke, Ramandeep Singh, Peter Ramage, Cavin Lobo, Joao Coimbra, Chris Dagnall, Mohd Rafi, Ishfaq Ahmed, Shankar S, CK Vineeth, Mehtab Hossain, Sandesh Jhingan, Deepak Kumar Mandal , Manandeep Singh, Rodrigo, Antonio German, Bruno Perone, Sandip Nandy, Saumik Dey, Marcus Williams, Peter Carvalho, Victor Herrero Forcada, Josu Currias, Shilton Paul.