Ambitious Hyderabad FC lock horns with two-time ISL champions Chennaiyin FC to kick start their 2021/22 campaign. Both the teams missed on the playoff spot last campaign with Hyderabad just missing out on fifth while the club from South India ended in eighth.
HYD vs CFC Match Details :
When: Tuesday, November 23
Time: 19:30 (IST)
Where: GMC Athletic Stadium, Bambolim
HYD vs CFC Match Preview :
Hyderabad FC had the most impressive campaign in the ISL last time under Manolo Marquez. Their 5th placed finish was the best for the franchise starting in 2019 in its second professional campaign. HFC was the name on everyone's lips as the team gave the stage for talents like Liston Colaco to make debut for the national team and then secure a big-money move to a top side like ATK Mohun Bagan. Blending those talents with the right foreign recruits proved to be the perfect balance and success for them. Hyderabad almost reached the top four, missing out by just two points. The team has kept the same mindset of going for ISL experiences like Edu Garcia and Ogbeche to strengthen their attack while securing Juanan to manage the defense. Adding that with talents like Akash Mishra, Hitesh Sharma, Yasir etc another promising season awaits for them. It begins with a team that tasted victory in recent encounters.
Inconsistency, injuries and probably managerial changes didn't help Chennaiyin's chances last campaign. Finishing eight and scoring the least amount of the goal among all in the league last season is a record the 2019 finalist is wanting to change. So, as usual for any team coming back from a difficult season, the Marina Machans took several changes in the squad including a new face in the dugout. Bozidar Bandovic from Montenegro has been given the chance to oversee Chennaiyin this term. With his arrival, there has been some decent signings in the form of experienced players like Narayan Das, Debjit Majumdar, Jobby Justin to prodigy like Ninthoi Meetei. These additions to the team have brought in a lot of optimism. Lukasz Gikiewicz, the center forward from Poland, has been a promising foreign recruit with the 34-year-old stepping in India to improve the scoring numbers in the team.
HYD vs CFC Team News :
Head coach Bandovic confirmed that star midfielder Rafael Crivallero will be out for Chennaiyin's opening game as he had 'pain' and is being monitored by the medical staff to know the source of the injury. Germanpreet Singh is out as well for Tuesday's affair. CFC has made their and Indian team midfield star Anirudh Thapa the new captain of the team. It is a clear message from the club to stride towards past glories.
Hyderabad FC have a full-strength squad ready with no fitness concerns as confirmed by Manolo Marquez. That means all the new signings are expected to make their debut.
HYD vs CFC Expected Lineups :
HFC: Laxmikant Kattimani; Asish Rai, Juanan, Chinglensana Konsham, Akash Mishra, Joao Pedro, Hitesh Sharma, Mohammad Yasir, Halicharan Narzary, Edu Garcia, Bartholomew Ogbeche.
CFC: Vishal Kaith; Reagan Keisham, Ranjan Salam, Slavko Damjanovic, Narayan Das, Anirudh Thapa, Ariel Borysiuk, Ninthoi Meetei, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Mirlan Murzaev, Lukasz Gikiewicz.
HYD vs CFC Head to Head :
Chennaiyin FC fans will be wishing not to repeat the results they suffered against Hyderabad FC in both the games last season. Both the clashes were played back in January this year with HFC winning the first one 2-0 and scoring two more in the next one in 4-1 routing. Joel Chianese, the Australian midfielder from Perth Glory, scored in both the outings.
HYD vs CFC Dream11 Team Prediction :
GK: Kattimani (HYD)
DEF: Asish Rai (HYD), Damjanovic (CFC), Sana (HYD), A. Mishra (CFC)
MID: Meetei (CFC), E. Garcia (HYD), Thapa (CFC), Narzary (HYD)
FW: Gikiewicz (CFC), Ogbeche (HYD)
Match Prediction: Hyderabad FC 2-1 Chennaiyin FC
By the look at both the squads, Hyderabad FC looks potent in its setup and boasts one of the best teams in this campaign. Chennaiyin looks better than last with smart signings but they have to start the campaign with a defeat against a side that is more keen and determined to carry on their ambitious project.
