ISL 2015: Three reasons why Mumbai will defeat Atletico de Kolkata today

Prediction

Mumbai City FC 2-0 Atletico de Kolkata

Atletico's headless attack

Atletico de Kolkata have failed to score a goal in the last 307 minutes of football. Antonio Habas' team is clearly missing Arata Izumi and Helder Postiga. Put in an unusual lone striker role, Iain Hume is struggling to provide the goals. To make matters worse, the Canadian has also not received any support from the likes of Baljit Sahni and Javi Lara.

It is difficult to see them scoring against a Mumbai defense which has kept three clean-sheets in their last five matches, conceding just three goals in that period.

The defense that won the title is no more

Atletico de Kolkata's title winning campaign in the inaugural season was built on the base of a solid back-four. But the reigning champions have lost that sheen in defense this season as they have failed to keep a clean-sheet in six matches so far.

Arnab Mondal and Josemi formed the best defensive partnership in the league last season, but this time around the Indian center-back has struggled to replicate that form, while Josemi has struggled with his fitness.

Two words - Sunil Chhetri!

Sunil Chhetri is the man of the moment right now. The Indian skipper has lit up the ISL since returning from his international duty and it is no mystery that Mumbai's change in fortunes has coincided with him hitting his stride. 

The 31-year-old has scored six goals in his last three games, including a hat-trick against NorthEast United in their last game. Chhetri became the first Indian to achieve that feat in the Indian Super League and the Atletico defense would have had nightmares at the prospect of facing him in Mumbai tonight.