Chennai and Hyderabad will resume the 2021 campaign at GMC Stadium to move ahead in the points table. Chennai remained unbeaten in the last four matches, while Hyderabad suffered a 2-1 defeat to Goa in the last clash of 2020.
Match Timings: Jan 04, 7:30 PM IST
Team Preview
Chennai finally looks a compact side and they maintained the rhythm from the last four games. They are currently on a four-match unbeaten streak after a slow start. They defeated Goa and drawn three matches during this run. The Marina Machans stand seventh in the points table with 10 points from eight matches. They desperately needed a victory here to move ahead in the table. In a previous encounter with the Mariners, they played a goalless draw.
Chennai looked a better side in the first few minutes and they won the second half with more attacks but it didn’t provide a winner for them. Rafael Crivellaro came close to scoring twice, but he didn't manage a goal. Csaba Laszlo would also have to resolve the issues in forward-line. Chennai have scored just 7 goals this season and it’s not a great sign. Esmael Goncalves is recovering from a thigh muscle strain and he may play this match. Rafael Crivellaro has been ruled out of this game after suffering an injury against Mohun B. Isma will be back in the lineup after missing out on the last four games.
Meanwhile, Hyderabad slipped from the winning line and suffered three straight defeats against Mumbai, Kerala, and Goa. Manuel Marquez Roca's team had five matches unbeaten streak before this run. The Nizams would aim to start 2021 with a positive approach. In the final game in 2020, Hyderabad held Goa to score any goal in the competitive first half. They also took the lead in the 58th minute through an Aridane Santana header. Nizams couldn’t take it further as Ishan Pandita and Igor Angulo scored in the last three minutes to secure Goa's win.
In all three defeats, they showed good intent but missed out opportunities. They have faltered in crucial moments. Joel Chianese will be back in the side and will boost the team’s attack. Nizams have to find out the support for the Aridane Santana and if they do so, Hyderabad might be a dangerous side. Hyderabad will go without the services of Nikhil Poojary and Liston Colaco, due to injury concern. Lluis Sastre and Joel Chianese could be pushing for the starts in this game.
Possible Lineups & Current Form
Chennai
Vishal Kaith; Reagan Singh, Eli Sabia, Enes Sipovic, Jerry Lalrinzuala; Deepak Tangri, Memo Moura, Anirudh Thapa; Rahim Ali, Jakub Sylvestr, Lallianzuala Chhangte
Current form: D D W D L
Previous match: Goalless draw with Mohun B.
Hyderabad
Laxmikant Kattimani; Asish Rai, Odei Onaindia, Chinglensana Singh, Akash Mishra; Joao Victor, Hitesh Sharma, Lluis Sastre; Joel Chianese, Aridane Santana, Halicharan Narzary
Current form: L L L W D
Previous match: 2-1 defeat to Goa
Key Players
Chennai
Rahim Ali
2 goals in Indian Football League 2020-21
Jakub Sylvestr
1 goal and 1 assist in Indian Football League 2020-21
Hyderabad
Aridane Santana
5 goals in Indian Football League 2020-21
Joao Victor
1 goal in Indian Football League 2020-21
