ISL: Chennaiyin, Bengaluru in Deccan derby

With CFC co-owner Abhishek Bachchan celebrating his birthday on Monday, a win against one of its derby rivals at home would be a present that the team could offer, though a day later. 

During last season, Chennaiyin was almost out of contention during the final phase of the league stages. But this time around, it finds itself in a comfortable position to finish in one of the four playoffs spots. 

The Season 2 champion remains second in the league standings despite being out of action for the last 10 days while the visitor extended its lead at the top by four points after its win over defending champion ATK. Local lad Dhanpal Ganesh prevented the previous contest between the two sides from ending in a stalemate, grabbing a late goal after the 85-minute mark. 

Head coach John Gregory will return to the touch line for the first time at home after serving a fourmatch ban for an altercation with the match officials during an away encounter in Jamshedpur. Mailson Alves, a vital cog in the side’s defensive quartet, rose to the occasion in the reverse fixture, successfully winning all his aerial duels against his counterparts. 

One of the positives of the season for CFC has been the number of players that have put their name on the score sheet, with centre forward Jeje Lalpekhlua leading the pack with seven goals. 

Both teams have ensured four clean sheets thus far, with the former I-League winner playing a game more. Debutant Bengaluru has scored 25 goals, second only to FC Goa’s 29 so far. Coming on the back of a win, it has been ruthless up front, with Miku (10) and its skipper Sunil Chhetri (8) accounting for 18 of the 25 goals. 

Though the arena will be draped in different shades of the same colour, it is up to the players to assert their supremacy on the pitch in the ‘Battle of the blues’.