ISL 2015: Three reasons why Chennaiyin will beat Mumbai tonight

12/01/2015

Chennaiyin FC will host Mumbai City FC at the Marina Arena on Tuesday in a crucial tie which will go a long way in deciding which team grabs the fourth, and the final, place in the semi-finals. Mumbai need a win in this game to keep their slim hopes of qualifying alive, but they are heading into this game on a six-match win-less streak.

Prediction

Chennaiyin FC 2-1 Mumbai City FC

1. Mumbai will struggle to contain Chennaiyin's lethal attack

Only Kerala Blasters have conceded more goals than Mumbai so far in the league. A team with title aspirations cannot afford to concede 21 goals in 12 games. In fact, they have specially been in a charitable mood recently, conceding a staggering 15 goals in their last six games.

This tottering rearguard will face a Chennaiyin team who have scored 21 goals in 12 matches. After a couple of patchy performances, Stiven Mendoza has found his form once again and has scored four goals in the last two games. Mumbai will find it difficult to contain the Colombian striker, who is currently the top scorer in the league with 10 goals.

2. Mumbai's poor form in front of the goal

The visitors, who have one of the best attacks in the league on paper, have struggled in front of the goal recently. Mumbai have scored just three goals in their last six matches. Overall, they have scored the fewest in the league so far – just 13 in 12 games. To put it into context, the whole of the Mumbai squad has just three more goals than Mendoza.

They will struggle to find the back of the net against Chennaiyin, who have produced much improved defensive performances in their last two matches against Kerala Blasters and Delhi Dynamos. This new found solidity at the back is also a reflection of the superb form Raphael Augusto, Chennaiyin's anchor in the midfield, has been in recently.

3. Chennaiyin will exploit the wings against Mumbai

Nicolas Anelka used a 4-2-3-1 formation in their last game with Sony Norde and Subash Singh playing on the wings. Neither of the duo is known for his ability to track back and help out the fullbacks.

Marco Materazzi, on the other hand, has successfully shifted to a 4-3-3 formation and the wide forwards are bound to cause Mumbai a lot of problems. Without help from their wingers, Aitor and Fanai will find it hard to deal with the likes of Jeje and Mendoza.

FC Goa also exploited the width of the pitch during their 7-0 win over Mumbai, with Mandar Rao Desai and Romeo Fernandes troubling the defence.