Match: Atletico de Kolkata v Chennaiyin FC
Date: 2 October, Sunday
Time: 9:30pm SGT/7pm IST/2:30pm BST
Venue: Rabindra Sarobar Stadium
Competition: Indian Super League 2016
TV Coverage: There is no TV coverage of the 2016 ISL clash between NorthEast United and Kerala Blasters in Singapore.
Live Streaming: Hotstar
Overview
Atletico de Kolkata host Chennaiyin FC in their first game of 2016 Indian Super League at Rabindra Sarobar Stadium, Kolkata on 2 October.
Both teams, who have won a title each in the last two editions, will look to start their campaign on a high. The 2014 champions will not play at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium as it is undergoing renovation to host the U17 Fifa World Cup matches in 2017.
Atletico have been one of the most consistent sides in the two-year history of the league having won the title in the inaugural edition and reaching the semi-final in 2015. Notably, the Sourav Ganguly co-owned team lost to Chennaiyin in the last-four stages of the previous edition.
The hosts have a new coach in Jose Francisco Molina and the firepower to go the distance this season. They will happy to get back the services of former Porto star Helder Postiga, who injured himself in the 2015 season opener. In retaining an array of their foreign stars, Atletico will also have Ian Hume, who netted 11 times last season including two hat-tricks.
Arnab Mondal and Tiri will be Molina's trusted men at the centre of the defence on Sunday. Robert Lalthlamuana and Pritam Kotal are likely to pair up with the two men at the back for Kolkata.
South African midfielder Sameehg Doutie will be a key figure in the midfield along with Hume and their partnership will influence how effective Postiga remains at the front. Spanish duo of Javi Lara and Borja Fernandez will take up the role of defensive midfielders in Atletico's set-up.
On the other hand, the defending champions will miss their star performers from last season, Elano Blumer and Steven Mendoza. However, the presence of Jeje Lalpekhlua and Nigerian striker Dudu Omagbemi will boost their attacking capabilities this season.
Marco Materazzi will bank on the crowd favourite Bernard Mendy to lead their backline. The Frenchman has proved his worth with his pace and overlapping runs that have made Chennaiyin a lethal unit on the counterattack.
John Arne Riise, who played for Delhi Dynamos in the 2015/16 season, is Chennaiyin marquee player this season. The former Liverpool star's partnership at the back with Mendy will provide the team with experience at the back. Brazilian footballer Raphael Augusto will be a key figure in the midfield for them.
The clash of the two heavyweights is expected to light up the ongoing season after a dull opener in Guwahati. On Sunday, Atletico would definitely want to give their city, which is in festive mood, more reasons to cheer.
TV Schedule
Bhutan: Star Sports 3 Asia
Bangladesh: Star Sports 3 Asia
Nepal: Star Sports 3 Asia
India: Star Sports 3
UAE: Abu Dhabi Sports
Team News
Atletico de Kolkata
Possible XI: Debjit Majumder; Robert Lalthlamuana, Arnab Mondal, Tiri, Pritam Kotal; Borja Fernandez, Javi Lara; Bidyananda Singh, Ian Hume, Sameehg Doutie; Helder Postiga
Chennaiyin FC
Possible XI: Duwayne Kerr; Abhishek Das, John Arne Riise, Bernard Mendy, Mehrajuddin Wadoo; Baljit Sahni, Hans Mulder, Thoi Singh; Jeje Lalpekhlua, Raphael Augusto, Davide Succi
