ISL Match Preview: Chennaiyin FC look for a good end to the season against relentless ATK Mohun Bagan

Chennaiyin FC will look to go all guns blazing in their season-ending game and end the season in the finest way possible in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2021-22 season against ATK Mohun Bagan in Match 103 at the PJN Stadium in Margao, Goa on Thursday evening.

Currently, on a 7-game winless streak, the Marina Machans would eye for nothing but the three points after to conclude an underwhelming campaign. ATK Mohun Bagan, on the other hand, gets an opportunity to finish in the top four provided that they secure a victory.

Form Guide

Chennaiyin FC: LLDLL

Winless in their last five matches, the Marina Machans sit eighth in the league table with 20 points in 19 games. Syed Pasha’s men fell short of success against a dominant Kerala Blasters FC in their last game in a 3-0 defeat.

ATK Mohun Bagan: WWDDW

With a win in the last tie against Bengaluru FC, the Mariners are closer to the finish line but not yet there. Ferrando’s men, who sit third in the league table, are on a 14-game unbeaten run and would want to extend it to another game by securing a semi-final berth with a win against the two-time ISL winners.

Team News

In the ATK Mohun Bagan camp, Hugo Boumous and David Williams are in the process of recovery and are improving day by day.

Head-To-Head

The two sides have shared the field thrice, with ATK Mohun Bagan winning once while the rest of the matches have been draws, including the 1-1 draw in Match 25 earlier this season, meaning Chennaiyin FC are winless against the Mariners.

Key Stats

Unwanted record for Chennaiyin FC

Chennaiyin FC have conceded 34 goals in their 19 matches this season, the joint-most they have conceded in a single Hero ISL season. If they fail to keep a clean sheet in the upcoming match, they will break their record of most goals conceded in a single Hero ISL season that was set in the 2019-20 season.

ATK Mohun Bagan nearing FC Goa’s unbeaten run record

ATK Mohun Bagan are currently on a 14 match unbeaten run in the Hero ISL. This is the second-longest unbeaten run in Hero ISL history. They are now only 1 match away from equalling FC Goa’s unbeaten record of 15 matches set in Hero ISL 20-21. Their unbeaten run started with a draw against Chennaiyin FC (Match 25). They have won seven and drawn seven of their last 14 games.

Another record being chased by ATK Mohun Bagan

Indian players have scored 19 goals for ATK Mohun Bagan in the 21-22 campaign, accounting for 53% of the team’s goals. The record for most goals scored by Indian players for a team in one season of the Hero ISL belongs to Bengaluru FC, which had seen Indian players score 20 goals in the 2018-19 campaign. The Mariners need one more goal from an Indian player to equal this record, and two to create a new one.

Key Players

Chennaiyin FC

Vladimir Koman: The midfielder has three goals and one assist in 16 matches this season and is also an influential player in the defensive department, making 49 tackles, 17 interceptions, 14 blocks, and nine clearances.

Narayan Das: Das has started in all the matches for Chennaiyin FC this season. The defender has been a wall at the back, making 64 clearances, 47 tackles, 45 blocks, and 32 interceptions this season.

ATK Mohun Bagan

Liston Colaco: The Goan has scored eight times and provided three assists. His eight goals put him at the top for Indian scorers in the league this season, while his 3 assists put him at the joint second place for assists among Indian players. No Indian player has more goal contributions this season than Liston Colaco. The footballer will make his 50th appearance in the Hero ISL if he features for his side in their upcoming game against the Marina Machans.

Joni Kauko: The Finnish international has been at the forefront of the Mariners’ midfield, racking up goals and assists recently. The midfielder has scored thrice and provided an assist in the last five games, contributing eight goals in total in the campaign so far.

Match timings and telecast details

Match: Chennaiyin FC vs ATK Mohun Bagan

Date: March 3, 2022

Venue: PJN Stadium, Margao, Goa

Kick-off time: 7.30 pm IST

Telecast: Star Sports Network

Online Streaming: Disney+Hotstar and JioTV.