NM vs MCFC Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Time: 21:30 (IST)
Venue: Azadi Stadium, Tehran
NM vs MCFC Match Preview
Any chances of knockout qualification for Nassaji Mazandaran were dashed by Uzbek side Navbahor Namangan in the last group game after they lost the AFC Champions League group match 3-1. Navbahor got their job done within 46 minutes of the play taking the lead as soon as the second minute of the match. Reza Azadi’s 68th-minute strike was not enough to spark a comeback from the team. The defeat means even if the Iranian side manages to win their remaining games, they will still be one point short of a qualification place. Nassaji is left with only pride to play facing ISL Shield winners Mumbai City FC in the next match against whom they debuted in the competition. They won the encounter hosted in Pune 2-0 which remains their sole victory in the group stages. In the next games, Nassaji suffered three losses going down 3-0 against Al-Hilal at home and 2-1 to Navbahor away before this defeat. Therefore, The Mazandaran Tigers hope to repeat the result of their Champions League opener in their third consecutive home match to give the fans something to cheer. That being said, Nassaji has not won at home since last season including a loss in the last two. They also languish in the second bottom of their domestic league with only one win and just six points earned from nine games.
Mumbai City was also eliminated in the fourth Champions League group stage game, losing 2-0 to Al-Hilal in front of a packed DY Patil Stadium this month. The Islanders held the competition’s record winners for 62 minutes but then the goal gates opened. Mehtab Singh’s second yellow early in the second half overshadowed Mumbai City's excellent defensive display. Losing their fourth game in a row, 13 conceded and yet to score a goal the Shield winners are desperate to save their reputation being the last Indian club to earn a direct entry to the competition. Mumbai’s present Champions League campaign might not be as fruitful as the last one but they will hope to turn things around in their trip to Iran. However, the team has to juggle two major issues ahead of the match against Nassaji Mazandaran. Head coach Des Buckingham has left the team to manage his favourite club Oxford United in England with his successor yet to be decided. The main problem though is Mumbai City have to find their first win in the ACL this season with a squad which will be an all-Indian one for the fixture and without foreigners. This is due to travel restrictions to Iran given by governments around the world for security reasons.
NM vs MCFC Team News
Nassaji have no injury or suspension problems in the team but Mumbai City FC have a ton of issues before the game on Tuesday. In a unique circumstance, the team will field an all-Indian XI after the foreigners were restricted from entering Iran, despite getting their visas finalized, due to security reasons. The likes of Rostyn Griffiths, Tiri, Van Nieff, Greg Stewart and Jorge Diaz have not travelled with the squad. Alberto Noguera and El Khayati are anyway injured. In the Indian contingent too, Mehtab Singh will miss the clash due to suspension. Alongside Rahul Bheke, Helen Nongtu could start the AFC Champions League at the age of 19 with no other centre-back options left.
NM vs MCFC Predicted Lineups
NM: Rashid Mazaheri; Saeid Gholamalibeigi, Amir Janmaleki, Vahid Mohammadzadeh, Mersad Seifi; Esmaeil Babaei, Mahmoud Rahmati; Hossein Zamehran, Farshid Esmaeili, Mohammadreza Abbasi; Reza Azadi
MCFC: Phurba Lachenpa; Sanjeev Stalin, Helen Nongtu, Rahul Bheke, Akash Mishra; Jayesh Rane, Apuia, Vinit Rai; Vikram Pratap, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Bipin Singh
NM vs MCFC Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Mazaheri (8)
DEF: Bheke (8.5), Vahid (8.5), Mishra (7.5)
MID: Vikram Pratap (8), Apuia (8), Rahmati (8), Esmaeli (8.5),
FW: Chhangte (9), Azadi (9), Bipin (8)
Vice-captain: Lallianzuala Chhangte
Captain: Apuia
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