After an acrimonious end to the second season of the second season of the ISL where the two finalists were involved in ugly scenes after the match and Chennaiyin FC's marquee player Elano was arrested for allegedly assaulting FC Goa co-owner Dattaraj Salgaocar, the two teams meet for a first time in ISL 2016.

The home team are the defending champions but they have really struggled in the absence of Elano and Stiven Mendoza. The Super Machans will hope that Raphael Augusto can provide the spark in the absence of the two attacking heavyweights.

Things haven't gone according to plan for coach Marco Materazzi so far with a 3-1 loss to Delhi Dynamos at home denting his side's confidence. Like so many other ISL teams, the left-back position has been the pain point for the Italian with Nallapan Mohanraj proving less than effective so far. Jerry Lalrinzuala might get the nod for this game.

Jeje Lalpekhlua, Dudu and Davide Succi should start as the central attacking trio, while Hans Mulder will be expected to sit deep and patrol the midfield.

Zico will know that his injury-hit Goa side are in trouble and could end up losing their third game in a row this season if the team doesn't shape up.

The Brazilian could opt for his favoured 3-5-2 position with Mandar Rao Dessai and Romeo Fernandes reprising familiar roles as the wing-backs. Sanjay Balmuchu could be in line for another start in the centre of midfield behind the Gaurs' creator-in-chief Jofre Mateu.

Reinaldo should be back in the line-up to lead his team's attack. Goa's last season topscorer will be looking to get off the mark at the Marina Arena.

Match Facts

Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Chennai

Capacity: 45,000

Time: 7 pm IST.

Last meeting: FC Goa 2 - 3 Chennaiyin FC, 20th December, 2015, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, Goa

Head-to-head: Matches played: 5. Chennaiyin wins: 3, Goa wins: 2

Key Battles

Romeo Fernandes vs Jerry Lalrinzuala: The 24-old winger will go back to the wing-back role that he played so successfully for last season's runners-up. Romeo's pace and trickery will be hard to contain.

Lalrinzuala, the 18-year old from Mizoram, has been suddenly thrust into the limelight after Mohanraj's inconsistent displays. Did give away a penalty in the first game against Atletico de Kolkata, and could be troubled by Romeo again today.

Reinaldo vs John Arne Riise: The Brazilian was Goa's most prolific player last year but is yet to open his account this year. Will be hungry for goals after he was initially dropped to the bench.

Riise, Chennaiyin's marquee, struggled at times with Delhi's movement last time around and could be given the run-around by Reinaldo. Comes with bags of experience, even though movement may not be as sharp as it was once upon a time.

Squads

Chennaiyin FC: Duwayne Kerr; Bernard Mendy, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Jerry Lalrinzuala, John Arne Riise; Hans Mulder, Thoi Singh, Raphael Augusto; Davide Succi, Dudu, Jeje Lalpekhlua

FC Goa: Laxmikanth Kattimani; Lucio, Rafael Dumas, Raju Gaikwad; Sanjay Balmuchu, Joffre, Mandar Rao Dessai, Romeo Fernandes, Trindade Goncalves; Rafael Coelho, Reinaldo