Chennaiyin FC host Atletcio de Kolkata at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in a much-awaited top-of-the-table clash in the Indian Super League on Tuesday.
The fixture is arguably the most important match of the tournament so far as the two ISL heavyweights face each other for the first time. Kolkata currently sit atop the table with 11 points from five matches, while Chennai is second with nine points from four; and if the hosts win today they can occupy the number one spot for the first time.
Chennai will be keen to continue their impressive run of form, after winning three of their first four matches. The team will be high on confidence heading into this game, after beating Mumbai City FC 5-1 in their last outing.
Chennai's player-coach Marco Materazzi has been keeping tabs on table-toppers Kolkata but is confident that his side can beat them at home.
"Atletico de Kolkata are a very good team. They are a good squad, and they are on the top (of the table)," the Italian told the ISL website on Monday.
"[But] we can definitely win tomorrow. We won against Mumbai, and, like the last game, we have the attitude to win. We will put the same attitude and we can win."
Kolkata, on the other hand, are the only team yet to lose a match in the tournament. They also hold the joint record of conceding the least number of goals so far.
Though Kolkata have struggled a bit of late, drawing their last two matches due to playing too many games within a short interval, they finally got a much-needed rest of eight days, and is looking to get back to winning ways.
"We hope to win, everybody saw Chennai play and they have a good team and good players all across the pitch. It's a very difficult game for us, especially since we are away, but we hope to win," Kolkata captain Luis Garcia told the ISL website.
"For us, it is important to have the rest. Very important, considering we had to play every three days; now it is good for the players as they have a bit more of capacity."
Meanwhile, the weather in Chennai has been a big concern, with heavy downpours making the pitch impossible to practice on. It is understood that both sides trained at a school on the outskirts of the city on Monday.
Team News: Chennaiyin: Jairo Suarez misses out due to injury, while fellow defender Abhishek Das is also sidelined for this tie along with goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal. Denzil Franco was earlier ruled out of the tournament with an anterior crucial ligament injury.
Kolkata: Striker Fikru Teferra will miss this match as he remains suspended, while the team will also be without coach Antonio Lopez Habas, who has been banned from the touchline. The good news is talisman Luis Garcia returns to the fold, after recovering from a hamstring problem.
Expected lineups: Chennai: Paul; Gouramangi, Mendy, Silvestre, Dhanachandra; Materazzi, Khabra, Denson; Elano, Jeje, Mendoza
Kolkata: Chowdhury; Debnath, Josemi, Mondal, Saha; Nato, Borja; Lobo, Luis Garcia, Jofre; Llibert
Where to Watch Live
The ISL match is scheduled for a 7 pm IST (2.30 pm BST, 9.30 am ET) start with live TV coverage in India provided by a lot of channels, including Star Sports 2, Star Sports HD2, Star Sports 3, Star Gold, Asianet Movies, Suvarna Channel and Jalsha Movies. Viewers can also watch the ISL match via free live streaming online on Starsports.com.
US viewers can live stream the action on FoxSoccer2go, while Europe viewers can catch the action live on Eurosport or their online Player. Middle East and North Africa viewers can watch the game on Bein Sports or via live streaming on Bein Sports Connect.
South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa audience can catch the ISL match live on SuperSport or their online option. Australia viewers can catch the match live on Fox Sports 2 or via their live video option online.
