ISL 2024: NorthEast United FC vs Chennaiyin FC; What To Expect

NorthEast United FC and Chennaiyin FC will battle it out on Thursday, 17th October, 2024 at 7:30 PM IST in the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati, in the matchweek five of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25. As ISL returns from the international break, both teams are very eager to get back into the momentum of winning as the league resumes. NorthEast United NorthEast United FC will look to recover from the last game, in which they conceded a two-goal advantage to gain a disappointing 3-3 draw at the hands of FC Goa. Although losing the last three games consecutively, the Highlanders have been one of the more potent teams attacking in the league, netting seven goals from an expected goals value of 3.17. Chennaiyin FC Of course, Chennaiyin FC could not have arrived in Guwahati with much hope as they went on to play a 0-0 draw against the 10-man Hyderabad FC. They do show attacking intent; they have had the highest shot attempts per game at 19.3 but only three of them have been back of the net. The head coach Owen Coyle admitted the strength of NorthEast United however said that his team can most certainly challenge the Highlanders and hang out with the best in the league. Head-to-Head Statistically, Chennaiyin FC are the favorites with eight wins in 20 matches played so far. NorthEast United, though, have been a tricky team to crack at home, losing only two of the eight home encounters against Chennaiyin FC. The 3-0 win against the visitors last season will work strongly for the Highlanders before this encounter. Key Players Key players to look out for in this match include Connor Shields of Chennaiyin FC, who has created 12 chances this season, and Parthib Gogoi from NorthEast United, who is a target to break the record as the top Indian goal contributor in this match. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
ISL 2024: Hyderabad FC vs Chennaiyin FC; What To Expect

Hyderabad FC will host Chennaiyin FC on Tuesday, 01st of October, 2024 as both teams hope to bounce back from defeat into the Matchweek 4 of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25. Hyderabad FC was defeated 2-0 by Punjab FC, while Chennaiyin FC lost out 1-0 to Mohammedan SC. Defensive Resilience Hyderabad FC have been impenetrable in front of defenses against Chennaiyin FC in the last few games. In their last eight ISL meetings, Hyderabad have conceded one or fewer goals, with four wins, drawn twice and have lost just twice. Hyderabad FC haven’t allowed Chennaiyin to score more than one goal in a match since January 2020, where Chennaiyin won 3-1. Chennaiyin’s Goal-Scoring Streak The Chennaiyin side can exploit any weakness in Hyderabad’s defense as they have scored at least once in each of their last four away games. That too comes after a series of four matches without a back of the net before the current streak of scoring goals, making it all the more impressive. Head-to-Head Both teams are neck and neck as both teams have won four games from their ten previous meetings in the ISL, while two matches have ended as draws. Players to Watch Out For Some of the names to look out for include Chennaiyin FC’s Farukh Choudhary, who has registered eight shots from inside the box so far this season, and Abdul Rabeeh of Hyderabad FC with 50 touches inside the opposition’s box since the beginning of 2024. Daniel Chima Chukwu of Chennaiyin FC will also be a threat as he scored five goals against Hyderabad FC, including getting a hat-trick in the last edition. The stakes are high and this game can ultimately form the perfect recipe for a thrilling clash at Gachibowli, where both teams would be desperate to return to winning ways. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
ISL 2024-25: Team Strengths, Concerns And Key Players – Part 1

The Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season is here and it’s already looking crazier than a last-minute VAR call. The teams are locked in and the fans are ready to back them. Here’s part 1 of the team previews at the ISL 2024-25 season. Mohun Bagan Super Giant Once again, they are the Goliaths everyone wants to topple. The new mastermind behind their charge? None other than Jose Molina, the coach who already has an ISL crown on his CV. With a dream team featuring dynamo Dimi Petratos and the ever-dangerous Greg Stewart, Mohun Bagan look primed to run the show. However their stunning defeat in the Durand Cup final reveals they have chinks in their armor. Do they sail through or fall on star power? Mumbai City FC If Mohun Bagan are Goliath, then Mumbai City FC are David with a sling named Lallianzuala Chhangte. The defending ISL champions lost big names like Apuia, however with the deadly combination of Jon Toral and Nikos Karelis, this ship is still cruising smoothly under Petr Kratky. Whether they would retain the silverware in the City of Dreams or get it slipped off just like that soap bar because of wet hands, the question remains. FC Goa Here comes FC Goa, led by the man who has “building champions” on his business card—Manolo Marquez. With Armando Sadiku leading the charge at the front and Iker Guarrotxena coming back for more, Goa’s plan is pretty simple: crash the top four party. With key departures looming as some unwanted referee, it is going to be one heck of a hustle. Odisha FC Odisha FC have pretty much put together an FC Goa reunion tour, bringing Sergio Lobera back to his old squad. With experience not only comes wisdom, but also the dreaded enemy of all athletes—aging legs. Will it be a case of Lobera being able to roll back the years and lead Odisha to glory, or will Father Time strike again? Kerala Blasters Let’s talk Kerala Blasters, where Adrian Luna is literally carrying the team on his back and new coach Mikael Stahre is praying that back doesn’t break. The talent of Luna is a feast to watch for the football fans, unless he gets more to support him, Kerala may struggle to keep pace with the big guns. Chennaiyin FC Chennaiyin FC is abuzz with fresh hope as Owen Coyle returns to the hot seat of managers with big plans of restoring the old glory of the club. Having experience from previously guiding the team to success, Coyle’s experience would come in handy to revive Chennaiyin this season. The team has, however, had a major rebuild this offseason. It could be that just the right mix of fresh youthful talent and more experienced players will yield the perfect blend to fashion a strong playoff push and reinvigorate their winning ways. NorthEast United The appointment of a new coach, Juan Benali, is going to herald a new era in their pursuit of excellence. After NorthEast United had to confront those lean spells for almost a season or so, with the innovative tactics of Benali, everything needs a change. NorthEast United hope that their underdog spirit may bring some surprises to the league this season. Thanks to key new signings and restructuring, they are the dark horses of the season that might well crash into the elite party, break the established pecking order and pull off an unforgettable playoff run. So, get the popcorn ready, as this ISL 2024-25 season is going to be a mouthful of goals, drama and magical football. Shall we see dominance from the Big Three or some upsets? The only sure thing is that it will be quite a ride. Stay tuned for part 2 of the team previews at the ISL 2024-25 season. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye