The Mariner’s are now unbeaten in their last seven games and came from behind to defeat rivals SC East Bengal 3-1 in the previous match.
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ATK Mohun Bagan will be looking to continue their winning momentum when they take on struggling Mumbai City FC in the second-phase match of the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Fatorda Stadium on Thursday. The Mariner’s are now unbeaten in their last seven games and came from behind to defeat rivals SC East Bengal 3-1 in the previous match. The ATKMB camp is rejuvenated by the emergence of its new striker in young Kiyan Nassiri, who came off the bench to score a hat-trick in the Kolkata derby. Meanwhile MCFC are winless in their last six matches.
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Up for the Islanders’ challenge! Let’s do this, Mariners ?♥️#ATKMohunBagan #JoyMohunBagan #AmraSobujMaroon #HeroISL #MCFCATKMB pic.twitter.com/jRfJYX1ieD
— ATK Mohun Bagan FC (@atkmohunbaganfc) February 3, 2022
ATKMB are placed fifth in the points table and a win against the Islanders would take them into the top four and help them close the gap with leaders Hyderabad FC with two games in hand. Juan Ferrando’s side didn’t have a great game against SCEB but the Spanish tactician made the right changes to turn the tide in their favor and get all three points.
The Kiyan factor gets added to ATKMB’s attacking line-up that includes established names like Roy Krishna, Hugo Boumous, David Williams and Liston Colaco. Ferrando seems to be still unclear about his best attacking line-up as he opted to play Boumous behind Williams with Liston and Manvir on either side in the previous game. But, against Odisha FC, the Spanish tactician played both Williams and Krishna together with the latter given a slightly withdrawn role behind the target man.
Liston has been the most impressive Indian player in the league so far. The 23-year-old has already got five goals to his name and has been causing all sorts of problems to the opposition defenders with his pace, skills and shooting abilities. He was unlucky not to get on the score-sheet against SCEB as he was denied by the woodwork and some fine goalkeeping by Arindam Bhattacharya.
On the other hand, MCFC are sixth in the table with 18 points from 12 games. They too have matches in hand like ATKMB but goals have dried up for the defending champions and that is a cause of worry for head coach Des Buckingham. The Islanders have scored just three goals and conceded eight times in their last four games.
The last time the two heavyweights met, MCFC thrashed ATKMB 5-1 as they enjoyed a rich vein of form at the start of the season before dropping midway and going winless in six games.
