Kolkata: Stung by a loss to FC Pune City, leaders Atletico de Kolkata will look to regroup quickly and return to winning ways when they take on Chennaiyin FC in a top of the table clash in the Indian Super League here on Friday.
ATK would do well to remember their last clash against Chennai, where they had failed to close out despite taking a lead in a match during which their influential midfielder Jofre Mateu was harshly booked.
But there’s good news for ATK as the Spaniard will be returning against Chennaiyin FC, whose defence will be depleted without the trio of Bernard Mendy, Jairo Andres Suarez and Abhishek Das.
According to sources, the team did not want to risk former Hull City wingback Mendy on the artificial surface here.
The Frenchman had scored a stunning bicycle kick in their 2-1 win over Kerala Blasters and ATK’s full strength side will look to go for all-out attack after Chennaiyin’s star Brazilian forward Elano Blumber scored from a penalty deep into the second-half injury time.
One concern for ATK is the tendency to concede goals despite taking the lead, something that has happened in three games. They are, in fact, yet to win a game at home since their 3-0 rout of Mumbai City FC. It will be interesting to see how the ATK defence, which has so far put up a compact show, barring the blip against Pune in their 1-3 defeat, stands up to the challenge of Elano.
Ahead of Chennaiyin FC only on goal difference, ATK cannot afford to lose, as it would see them drop down the table for the first time in the league.
“The match against Chennaiyin FC on Friday is very important, because if we win, it will take us to 15 points. And the way other teams are placed on the table, I think 20 points will be enough for us to make the semifinal cut,”Jofre said.
