Struggling champions Chennaiyin FC take on Pune with only four games to go after tonight’s match. Marco Materazzi and his side know that its a game which they cannot afford to lose, as they lie second from bottom with only 10 points from their 9 games.

Materazzi and his men have been in this position before, and gone on to win the title, winning 6 of their last 7 games in ISL-2. This time though, Elano and John Stiven Mendoza are not present to bail the team out.

There are problem spots for the Italian and his side all over the pitch as Chennaiyin’s defence crumbled in the last two matches, conceding a combined seven goals over 180 minutes. A paucity of options on the bench may mean that the same defence starts this match.

Davide Succi and Maurizio Peluso haven’t been the most effective up front. Jeje Lalpekhlua has bagged 2 goals but hasn’t looked as menacing as he has been in a Mohun Bagan and Indian shirt.

Pune, patchy themselves, have beaten Atletico de Kolkata and Mumbai City recently to jump to 5th place. But they know that the league is tight and a point here would prove to be invaluable.

Antonio Lopez Habas has the services of Eugeneson Lyngdoh and the midfield maestro of Bengaluru FC could very well be the link that is missing that the Stallions have been lacking while going forward.

Jesus Tato has been their most potent attacker and has run in hard to hassle opposition defenders but he has been starved of service by his midfield.

Habas may go on the offensive against a Chennaiyin defence that is reeling at the moment and opt to play Anibal Zurdo. Mohammed Sissoko has done a good job screening his defence and has been the most impressive marquee player on display this season.

Match Facts

Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai

Capacity: 27,000

Time: 7 pm IST

Last meeting: FC Pune City 1-1 Chennaiyin FC, October 23rd 2016, Balewadi Sports Complex Stadium, Pune

Head-to-head: Matches: 5, Chennaiyin wins: 3, Pune wins: 0, Draws: 2

Key Battles

Hans Mulder vs Eugeneson Lyngdoh: After an impressive run to the AFC Cup final with Bengaluru FC, Lyngdoh has finally arrived at the ISL and his winner last time around will give Habas and his team a world of confidence.

If one man can stop Eugene’s party, it is Hans Mulder. In a season where the champions have struggled, it is the Dutchman who has been one of their bright spots. Mulder has shown good work-rate and has scored two goals. His job will be to ensure that Pune’s link man doesn’t get too much space in the middle of the park.

Expected line-ups

Chennaiyin FC: Karanjit Singh; Bernard Mendy, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Eli Sabia, Jerry Lalrinzuala; Hans Mulder, Raphael Augusto, Siam Hanghal; Davide Succi, Maurizio Peluso, Jeje Lalpekhlua

FC Pune City: Edel Bete; Augustine Fernandes, Eduardo Ferreira, Gouramangi Singh; Rahul Bheke, Narayan Das, Jonathan Lucca, Mohamed Sissoko; Anibal Zurdo Rodriguez, Jesus Tato, Eugeneson Lyngdoh