I-League 2018-19: NEROCA vs Chennai City: Preview and prediction
What's the story
NEROCA will be hosting league leaders Chennai City tomorrow in their return I-League fixture. While the hosts are fifth on the league table with 25 points from 16 matches, the visitors have collected 33 points from 15 matches so far. Will Chennai lose their third match of the season tomorrow? Or will they show their usual dominance? Here is our detailed match preview.
NEROCA
How are NEROCA looking before the match?
NEROCA will be coming off a defeat at the hands of East Bengal against whom they did put up an impressive performance, but it was not enough to contain the blistering attack of the Red and Golds. Their biggest advantage will be their home, as except their defeat against East Bengal in the season's first match, nobody has been able to defeat them there.
Chennai City
How are Chennai gearing up for the encounter?
Chennai will be desperate to get their three points tomorrow, because if they fail to do so and East Bengal win their two matches in hand, Chennai will have to give up their top spot to the Kolkata giants. Chennai are quite strong when they counterattack or press their opponents high up the field, but they tend to leave gaps, which might cause problems.
Key players
Who will be the key players tomorrow?
Katsumi Yusa, Subhash Singh and Felix Chidi will be the key players in attack for NEROCA and Varney Kallon will be their main man in defense. Chencho Gyeltshen has been another valuable addition to their squad. Chennai have a devastating attacking trio in the form of Pedro Manzi, Nestor Gordillo and Sandro Rodriguez, who will be constant threats to NEROCA's defense.
TV listing
Predicted line-up and TV listing
NEROCA: Thapa, Ashok Singh, Kallon, Ferreira, Thangmuansang, Williams, Saran Singh, Meitei, Yusa, Subhash Singh, Chidi. Chennai City: Santana, Vanspaul, Eslava, Bora, Kamaraj, Pandiyan, Raju, Jesuraj, Rodriguez, Gordillo, Manzi. The match is scheduled to kick-off from 2:00 PM and will be telecast on the Star Sports network. It can also be live-streamed on Hotstar or Jio TV.
Prediction
How can the match turn out tomorrow?
Though Chennai have been phenomenal this season, this match will not be as easy for them. NEROCA were impressive against East Bengal and might pull off another such performance tomorrow. However, Chennai will surely give a tough challenge to anyone this season. We predict the match will go 2-1 in Chennai's favor.
Fantasy XI
What should be the ideal Fantasy XI for the match?
Use a 4-3-3 formation with Thapa as the goalkeeper and Ashok Singh and Kamaraj can be the left and right backs respectively. Eslava and Kallon can play as the center-backs while Meitei, Jesuraj, and Rodriguez can be the midfielders. Manzi, Gordillo, and Katsumi can be the forwards.