ATK Mohun Bagan vs Bengaluru: Preview and Prediction
In the fourth game of matchday 15 of the 2022-23 Indian Super League season, ATK Mohun Bagan will be up against shield-favorites Mumbai City in what promises to be a thrilling contest. The fixture will be played at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan on Saturday.
ATK Mohun Bagan has been one of the better sides in this competition. The Mariners have won seven of their first 12 matches and have accumulated 23 points. Currently, Juan Ferrando’s men are occupying the fourth place in the standings.
On the other hand, Mumbai City has certainly been the best team this season. They have won 10 of their first 13 matches, and are the only team not to have lost any match thus far. With 33 points to their name, the Islanders are sitting handsomely at the top of the table.
Current Form
ATK Mohun Bagan started their season with a 1-2 defeat against Chennaiyin but then bounced back with a streak of four unbeaten games. During this run, the Mariners defeated Kerala Blasters, East Bengal and NorthEast United, while they drew against Mumbai City.
After Goa ended their unbeaten streak with a 3-0 drubbing, Ferrando’s men bounced back once again with a similar run of three wins and a draw. This time around, the Kolkata-based team got the better of Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Jamshedpur. After a sudden dip in form, where they drew against Odisha and lost against NorthEast United, the Mariners bounced back with a 2-1 win over Goa in their last match.
Mumbai City’s start was not as spectacular, as they could win only two of their first five matches – against Odisha and Kerala Blasters. The other three fixtures against Hyderabad, Jamshedpur and ATK Mohun Bagan ended in stalemates.
However, Des Buckingham’s men have been unstoppable ever since, as they have won eight matches on the trot. During this sensational run, the Islanders have defeated Chennaiyin, Bengaluru, NorthEast United, Goa, East Bengal, Chennaiyin, Odisha and Kerala Blasters.
Head to Head Record
The head-to-head records are completely inclined in favour of Mumbai City. The Islanders have won four of the past six league meetings against ATK Mohun Bagan, with the other two matches ending in draws – meaning the Mariners have never been able to beat Mumbai City.
The first leg meeting of this season, which took place back in November, resulted in an end-to-end 2-2 draw. Lallianzuala Chhangte and Rostyn Griffiths were on the scoresheet for Buckingham’s side, while a Mehtab Singh own goal and a Carl McHugh strike comprised the Mariners’ two goals.
Team News
Though his team won the last match against Goa, it is set in stone that Ferrando will make at least one change to his starting XI. Midfielder Pronay Halder, who started against the Gaurs, will not be seen in Green and Maroon anymore this season, as he has joined Jamshedpur.
However, the Mariners have bolstered their squad with some exciting additions. New arrival from Kerala Blasters, Puitea could replace Halder, with Uruguayan midfielder Federico Gallego replacing McHugh. Besides that, Montenegrin centre-back Slavko Damjanovic could replace Brendan Hamill.
On a similar note, Buckingham will also be forced to make at least one tweak to his team, despite a stunning 4-0 win in the last match against Kerala Blasters. Argentine frontman Jorge Pereyra Diaz will have to serve a one-game suspension, having picked up four yellow cards.
In his absence, Greg Stewart could be forced to play as a striker, which would also free up an overseas slot for the English tactician. He could utilize it by fielding Spaniard Alberto Noguera in the vacant number 10 role.
Predicted XIs
ATK Mohun Bagan (4-3-3): Vishal Kaith; Pritam Kotal, Slavko Damjanovic, Subhasish Bose; Asish Rai, Puitea, Federico Gallego, Ashique Kuruniyan; Liston Colaco, Dimitri Petratos, Hugo Boumous.
Mumbai City (4-2-3-1): Phurba Lachenpa; Rahul Bheke, Mehtab Singh, Rostyn Griffiths, Vignesh Dakshinamurthy; Ahmed Jahouh, Apuia Ralte; Lallianzuala Chhangte, Alberto Noguera, Bipin Singh; Greg Stewart.
Prediction
Mumbai City might be ahead both on head-to-head records and current form, but after making three superb signings, it seems certain that ATK Mohun Bagan will be reinvigorated. Moreover, the home support at Kolkata will also work in their favour. Hence, we have predicted a draw to be the outcome of this fixture.