Chennaiyin FC will play NorthEast United FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 on March 3, at 7:30 pm IST.

The Highlanders are at the sixth place with 32 points from 22 games, and need just one win to confirm their place in the playoffs. Three points from here will take them to 35, which is an unassailable feat for any team barring Mumbai City FC in the standings now. Chennaiyin FC have lost thrice in their previous five games, and are out of the top-six race, since they have 24 points from 22 encounters now.

Chennaiyin FC have held the upper hand in their matches against the Highlanders at home, winning each of the last three encounters. A win here will mark their joint-longest home winning stretch against a single team in the ISL.

Contrastingly, NorthEast United FC are unbeaten in their previous five ISL away fixtures, winning thrice in the period. They have a goal difference of +8 in this phase, and a positive result here will be their longest unbeaten sequence on the road in the ISL.

Chennaiyin FC’s Crossing Tendency

• ⁠ Consecutive Home Victories: Having beaten Punjab FC in their last home fixture, a win in this match would be the consecutive victories for Chennaiyin FC in their backyard in the ISL for the first time since April 2024.
  
  
• ⁠ Crossing Accuracy: Chennaiyin FC have been efficient from a crossing perspective, with 19.6% of their crosses leading to a shot (89 shots from 455 crosses) - the highest percentage in the competition this season. They have made the fourth-most crosses in the league this season.

NorthEast United FC’s Long-Range Threat

• ⁠ Defensive Stability: NorthEast United FC have recorded three clean sheets in their last four away matches. Overall, they have kept six shutouts in 2024-25, the fifth-most in the competition.
  
  
• ⁠ ⁠Long-Range Threat: NorthEast United FC have scored 10 goals from outside the box this season, their highest tally in a single ISL campaign. Only Hyderabad FC (13 in 2021-22), Mumbai City FC (11 in 2022-23), and Kerala Blasters FC (11 in 2021-22) have scored more this way in a single season.

Head-to-Head

The two teams have played 21 games this season, with Chennaiyin FC and NorthEast United FC winning nine and seven matches respectively. Five encounters have produced draws.

Coaches Corner

“We want to finish strong for our supporters”

Chennaiyin FC head coach Owen Coyle insisted on signing off positively from the campaign.

“Our home record this season has not been good. We want to finish strong for our supporters,” he said.

“It’s important that we stay focused”

NorthEast United FC assistant coach Naushad Moosa stressed on playing a positive brand of football.

“Chennaiyin FC come into the match with nothing to lose. It’s important that we stay focused and play good football,” he said.

Key Players to Watch

• ⁠ Chennaiyin FC’s Wilmar Jordan Gil has scored three goals in his previous ISL appearances against them. He has netted 10 times in 21 games this season.
  
  
• ⁠ NorthEast United FC’s Alaaeddine Ajaraie has scored five goals from outside the box this season. This tally is the joint-most in a single ISL campaign, alongside Bartholomew Ogbeche (5 in 2021-22) and Javi Hernandez (5 in 2021-22).
  
  
• ⁠ Chennaiyin FC’s Connor Shields has not registered a goal or assist in his last six starts. He has scored once and assisted eight times in ISL 2024-25.

ISL Fantasy

Connor Shields (7.1cr)

The Chennaiyin FC star has won the most ISL fantasy points (83) in his team this season

Alaaeddine Ajaraie (8.6cr)

The NorthEast United FC player has bagged the highest ISL fantasy points (152) in his team in 2024-25

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