ATKMB kicks off proceedings for the new season at home after two years against a revenge-seeking Chennaiyin FC.
The club from Kolkata qualified for the playoff last season losing narrowly to eventual champions Hyderabad FC in the semi-finals. In contrast, Chennaiyin FC had a torrid time by finishing eighth for back-to-back seasons.
ATKMB vs CFC Match Details
Date: Monday, 10 October 2022
Time: 19:30 (IST)
Venue: Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata
ATKMB vs CFC Match Preview
Juan Ferrando’s men will start another campaign in a bid to compete for the title, narrowly missing out on the final last time out. The club went through a managerial change after a poor start to the campaign with Antonio Habas stepping down and the former FC Goa coach taking the hot seat. Things improved but it didn’t skyrocket the team to success instantly as the third-place finish in the league period with six points off the top suggested. Ferrando’s strategy to use a false number nine after the departure of star striker Roy Krishna to Bengaluru FC also didn’t go down well as ATKMB failed to impress in the Durand Cup and also exited the AFC Cup in the quarterfinal stage to Malaysian club Kuala Lumpur City. Not that the attack failed to score but the usual solidity of the side was lost. One trend that ATKMB has persisted with is the signing of high voltage names coming this season in the form of Florentin Pogba, elder brother of World Cup winner Paul. His center-back partner Brendan Hamill and attacking midfielder Dimitri Petratos are new addition to the team as is goalkeeper Vishal Kaith. The Kolkata club are aware that money does not always buy success proven by their hosts of big-name signings in Indian football last year. Neither of the players clicked into full gear with the team not meeting their expectations. This time too, the new arrivals haven’t hit the ground running yet although the coach will try his best to get the best out of them in the new ISL season to avoid another stale show. Juan Ferrando’s men are desperate to get back to winning ways after recent disappointments in other competitions. Being at home for the first game of the season may work as an advantage to begin on a positive note and facing an opposition ATKMB haven’t lost in every meeting so far should breed confidence inside the team.
Chennaiyin FC are desperate to overturn their mediocre record in this fixture as well as their standings from the last two seasons. The Marina Machans have not been themselves in the past couple of seasons struggling to hit the same standards that helped them reach the final of the 2019/20 season. Consecutive eighth-place finishes are an indication the club is not moving forward and so a major change is required. It is left to see whether new coach Thomas Brdaric could regather a side capable of being title contenders again. The German has been in management since 2009 also working as a sporting director in his career. He may well show the skills of both roles to uplift the team in the new ISL season. Interestingly, Chennaiyin FC also scored the same amount of goals in the last two campaigns with 17 goals the second lowest figure managed in their ISL history. With Nerijus Valskis and Lukasz Gikiewicz failing to convert enough goals for the team, responsibility have fallen on new signings Petar Siliskovic and Kwame Karikari to replace the failure of the previous strike force. CFC relied on more defensive football under the last regime to no result with the team leaking 35 goals with only Odisha FC above them and the last two, NorthEast and East Bengal conceding more than them. Senegalese defender Fallou Diagne’s signing should bring in more discipline at the back knowing his profile with Sajid Dhot creating an ideal pairing, the 24-year-old impressing in his role last season. Almost a new look Chennaiyin FC this time the expectation of reaching the heights of the past has become a norm. The first win in this fixture will speak volumes of the side more so because away trips to Kolkata have not brought happy memories for the side recently. Brdaric’s philosophy will be tested severely in the curtain raiser and the one he wants to pass with flying colours.
ATKMB vs CFC Team News
Both sides are struggling with injuries. For ATKMB, Asish Rai and Kiyan Nassiri are doubtful for the opening game and coach Juan Ferrando said he will decide on their availability after the final training session. The Spaniard is expected to stick to the same eleven that suffered elimination from the quarterfinals of the AFC Cup in otherwise a full-strength squad. Vishal Kaith will face his former side for the first time since leaving them in the transfer window this summer.
On the other hand, CFC have left out Alexander Romario Jesuraj, Vincy Barretto and Mohammed Rafique from the traveling squad due to injuries. There are few other niggles for coach Thomas Brdaric to worry about. Most of the new signings are expected to make their ISL debut including center-back Fallou Diagne who has plied his trade in Europe for clubs like Werder Bremen, FC Metz, Stade Rennais and SC Freiburg.
ATKMB vs CFC Predicted Lineups
ATKMB: Vishal Kaith (GK), Pritam Kotal, Florentin Pogba, Brendan Hamill, Subhasish Bose, Carl McHugh, Joni Kauko, Deepak Tangri, Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan.
CFC: Debjit Majumder (GK), Edwin Sydney Vanspaul, Fallou Diagne, Sajid Dhot, Narayan Das, Anirudh Thapa, Julius Duker, Sajal Bag, Ninthoi Meetei, Petar Sliskovic, Kwame Karikari.
ATKMB vs CFC Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Kaith (9)
DEF: Kotal (8.5), F Pogba (8), Diagne (8.5), Dhot (8)
MID: Vanspaul (8.5), McHugh (9), Thapa (9), Kuruniyan (9)
FW: Sliskovic (8.5), Colaco (7)
Captain: Liston Colaco
Vice-captain: Anirudh Thapa
