MCFC vs NM Match Details
Date: Monday, 18 September 2023
Time: 19:30 (IST)
Venue: Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi
MCFC vs NM Match Preview
Mumbai City FC will begin their second consecutive campaign in the AFC Champions League at their new home for the competition, Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex for capacity reasons. The stadium is based in Pune away from the city as Mumbai Arena is not fit for competition use. Despite that, the Islanders are hoping to create the buzz of having the Champions League group games played in India. The possibility of seeing Brazilian superstar Neymar in India is also there as they have been grouped with competition giants Al-Hilal but there are other tough opposition to look for. Mumbai City FC became the first Indian club to win in the ACL group stages and narrowly missed out on the round of 16 stage last time out. A place the record Shield winners from the past ISL campaign hopes to achieve even though the path is more difficult than ever. They will hope to make the nation proud on the continental stage again. They will face Nassaji Mazandaran in the opener at home hoping for a victory.
Unlike Mumbai City FC who have had experience of playing at this level before, Nassaji will make their debut in the Champions League after winning the Hazfi Cup. The team has plenty of representatives from Iran’s national team and will bring a firm challenge for the home side due to their rank being much higher. The team has not started their league season well this season but will hope that does not distract them in the pinnacle club tournament of Asia. The problem for Nassaji will be the absence of certain key players like recent signing Alla Abbas due to visa issues and Ahad Jamshidi ruled out through cruciate ligament injury. Still, with the likes of star attacker Mohammad Reza Azadi, they will hope to fill the void in the attacking sector. Midfielder Farshid Esmaeillis's creativity could help in the case as well. Nassaji will be confident of picking up the first three points at Pune but knows very well Mumbai City FC will not lay it on a plate.
MCFC vs NM Predicted Lineups
MCFC: Phurba Lachenpa; Rahul Bheke, Mehtab Singh, Tiri, Akash Mishra; El Khayati, Van Nieff, Greg Stewart; Lallianzuala Chhangte, Jorge Diaz, Bipin Singh
NM: Rashid Mazaheri; Saeid Gholamalibeygi, Amir Mehdi, Vahid Mohammadzadeh, Matin Karimzadeh; Ehsaan Hossieni, Mahmoud Ghaed, Farshid Esmaeilli; Saber Hardani, Reza Azadi, Mohammadreza Abbasi
MCFC vs NM Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Mazaheri (8)
DEF: Mehatb (9), Vahid (9) Tiri (8.5)
MID: Chhangte (9), Esmaeili (9), El Khayati (8), Bipin (9)
FW: Stewart (9), Diaz (8), Abbasi (9)
Vice-captain: Jorge Diaz or Lallianzuala Chhangte
Captain: Greg Stewart
