ISL 2015 Preview: Mumbai's struggling attack faces Delhi's impenetrable defense
Bottom rankers Mumbai City FC host second placed Delhi Dynamos FC at the DY Patil Stadium tonight, with the home team still looking for their first win of the campaign. Delhi, on the other hand, have won three matches in a row and look ready to mount a sustainable title challenge.
The Blue Devils are coming into this game on the back a 0-2 loss at the hands of Chennaiyin FC, in a match where the performance of Sony Norde was the only positive for Nicolas Anelka. Despite bolstering their attack this summer, Mumbai have managed to score only one goal in their first three matches and despite the return of Sunil Chhetri in the last game, things did not improve.
Mumbai have also been handicapped by the absence of their marquee player, Nicolas Anelka, from the starting line-up and it has been painfully abundant that the team is lacking a leader at the moment.
Delhi on the other hand have showed tremendous character to bounce back from the defeat in their first game, with three wins in a row – the last of which came against Kerala Blasters. Roberto Carlos has been able to instill discipline and defensive organization into the team and they have conceded just one goal in their last three games.
The only concern for Roberto Carlos ahead of this outing will be the fitness of his players, who played a match, just a couple of days back in Cochin. They have not got the rest required to recuperate from such a high intensity game and all the traveling required to reach Mumbai.
Mumbai City team news
Mumbai City assistant manager Oscar Bruzon has confirmed that Brandon Fernandes and Nicolas Anelka are unavailable for selection due to fitness concerns. Mumbai's marquee player is yet to start a match and has been nursing a groin injury since the start of the campaign.
Bruzon has also hinted at a change in formation for this game, with Sony Norde being shifted to a more central role. The Blue devils are also likely to try a new combination at the center of the park and in the defense, which has been leaking a lot of goals.
Delhi Dynamos team news
Roberto Carlos has only one injury concern ahead of this fixture. Zodingliana Ralte, who was substituted in the first half of their match against Kerala Blasters after picking up an injury, is likely to be at the sidelines for this game.
The Brazilian manager might have to break the partnership of John Arne Riise and Anas Edathodika at the center of the defense and play the former Liverpool defender as a left back. Chicao, who has played as a holding midfielder so far, will drop back to the center of the defense.
Sehnaj Singh will replace Ralte in the starting line-up and partner Hans Mulder at the base of the midfield.
Previous encounters
November 5, 2014: Mumbai City FC 1 (Anelka 59') – 0 Delhi Dynamos FC
November 28, 2014: Delhi Dynamos FC 4 (Mulder 44', Junker 50', Dos Santos 60', Manish 90') – 1 Mumbai City FC (Abhishek 86')
Prediction
Mumbai City FC 0-1 Delhi Dynamos FC
Mumbai have struggled to score so far and they will continue to do so against a defense which has conceded the least number of goals in the league, along with FC Pune City. Delhi Dynamos will sit back and allow Mumbai to have the possession, but they will snatch a goal on a counter-attack.