Matchday 19 of the Indian Super League will see Mumbai City duke it out with NorthEast United on Tuesday from 7:30 PM IST onwards at the Mumbai Football Arena.
Both sides have a lot to play for but to different ends. For Mumbai City, the onus will be to ensure a victory at all costs and open up a 3-point gap with Mohun Bagan Super Giant who would have played two fewer matches after the Islanders engage in action on Tuesday.
The Islanders are the second-highest goal scorers in the league so far with 30 to their name but head coach Petr Kratky will be wary of the fact that they only have a solitary home win in the league so far this year.
NorthEast United is currently on 20 points from 18 games and a win will be critical to ensure they keep themselves in the race for the 6th playoff spot. In fact, a win, as unlikely as that may sound, would see them climb above Jamshedpur and Bengaluru into that all-to-play-for sixth position if other results go their way.
However, head coach Juan Pedro Benali, who will be well aware of the indifferent form shown by the Highlanders this season will know that he will need a big performance from his boys if they are to pick up points against a side who did the league double over them last season.
Current Form
Mumbai City is coming into the game having registered a 1-1 draw away to Jamshedpur. Lallianzuala Chhangte was on the money in the last game, however, it was mired with controversy as the Red Miners allegedly fielded an ineligible player in the form of Alen Stevanovic after Daniel Chima Chukwu received a red card.
They have already made an appeal to the ISL committee and if approved, Mumbai City would gain 3 points as the draw would turn into a 3-0 forfeit.
NorthEast United, on the other hand, is coming off a shocking 0-1 loss at home to Punjab. Former Highlander Wilmar Jordan Gil made them pay in Guwahati as the home side missed several key players as well during the course of the game.
Head to Head Record
Mumbai City and NorthEast United have faced each other 13 times so far with the former having 6 wins to their credit and the latter having only 4 triumphs.
In the reverse fixture in Guwahati way back in September, Parthib Gogoi had struck for the home side but a Jorge Pereyra Diaz brace ensured the visiting side all 3 points that night.
Team News
Jorge Pereyra Diaz should mark his return to the first team on Tuesday
For Mumbai City, forwards Ayush Chhikara and Iker Guarrotxena who have both sustained knee injuries against Goa and Punjab respectively will be missing the rest of the season. Ayush was a key part of their Kalinga Super Cup campaign while Iker had bagged 3 goals and 2 assists in his last 6 games after he signed in the winter transfer window.
Jayesh Rane will return to action after he was suspended for the last game on account of picking up 4 yellow cards, but Apuia and Vikram Partap Singh need to be weary for the same reason as they are both on 3 yellow cards.
It also remains to be seen if Kratky fields Jorge Pereyra Diaz as well as the forward, who was suspended for 4 games in the Kalinga Super Cup has served his ban and is available for selection again but has been missing in action.
For NorthEast United, Benali will be hoping Hamza Regragui, Tomi Juric, and Asheer Akhtar, who all missed their last game due to injuries, will be available for selection. Gani Ahmed, Macarton Louis Nickson, and Redeem Tlang are all currently on 3 yellow cards and need to be wary of suspensions.
Predicted Starting XIs
Mumbai City (4-3-2-1): Phurba Lachenpa; Rahul Bheke, Thaer Krouma, Tiri, Akash Mishra; Apuia, Yoell van Nieff, Alberto Noguera; Vikram Partap Singh, Bipin Singh; Jorge Pereyra Diaz
Northeast United (4-2-3-1): Gurmeet Singh; Dinesh Singh, Gaurav Bora, Míchel Zabaco, Tondonba Singh; Mohammed Ali Bemammer, Macarton Louis Nickson; Parthib Gogoi, Phalguni Singh, Jithin Madathil Subran; Nestor Albiach
Prediction
Mumbai City comes into the game as clear favorites but if Tomi and Hamza are available for the Highlanders, they will pose a significant threat to Kratky and co. Upsets have been aplenty in the league so far and you could potentially see another one, especially keeping in mind how Jamshedpur had got the better of Mumbai a few weeks back as well.