ISL 2017, Match 21: Jamshedpur FC vs FC Pune City, Probable XI
After their first league victory in the previous game, Jamshedpur FC are ready to host the FC Pune City in their 2nd home game of ISL 2017. This is a battle between the ruthless attack of FC Pune City and unbreakable defence of Jamshedpur FC.
The hosts Jamshedpur are the only side to have not conceded a single goal so far in ISL 2017. However, they have also scored just one goal this season, which came in their last game against Delhi Dynamos FC. Jamshedpur surely look to carry the momentum from away victory and register their first home victory tonight.
On the other side, FC Pune City have tasted their first defeat of ISL 2017 in their previous encounter against Chennaiyin FC. That was the only occasion this season where Pune have failed to score a goal. With one of the best attack and defence going head-to-head, we can expect a cracking start of a super Sunday evening in Jamshedpur.
Jamshedpur FC
Jamshedpur FC head coach Steve Coppell is pretty much aware of the attacking prowess of FC Pune City especially the combination of Emiliano Alfaro and Marcelinho. However, he is quite confident about his defence and hoping for 5th consecutive clean-sheet tonight at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur.
With Anas and Doutie not available for selection, he is not expected to make any changes in the winning squad from the last game. He will likely to field his side in 4-2-3-1 to give more support to defence. The only possible change could be Farukh replacing Siddharth at the right wing position.
Jamshedpur FC Probable Starting XI: Paul, Souvik, Shouvik, Tiri, Bikey, Memo, Mehtab, Trindade, Jairu, Siddharth, Azuka.
FC Pune City
The Stallions had a game to forget in their previous game, where they have failed to score a single goal for the first time this season. FC Pune City head coach Ranko Popovic doesn’t seem to be this mixed start of the season and would desperately aim to get back to winning ways tonight. He knows it is going to be very difficult to break Jamshedpur as he terms them as the most organised defensive side of ISL 2017.
Similar to his counterpart, Ranko is also not expected to make any changes in the side from the previous game. He would like to continue with his preferred formation of 4-2-3-1 against Jamshedpur FC tonight. We are expecting an early substitute appearance of Kean Lewis and Lucca if they fail to score until the break.
FC Pune City Probable Starting XI: Kaith, Baljit, Gurtej, Lopez, Fanai, Memo, Tebar, Marcelinho, Carlos, Issac, Alfaro.
Prediction
FC Pune City 1-1 Jamshedpur FC
We are expecting the 4th draw for Jamshedpur and they are also expected to concede their first ISL 2017 goal tonight against the Stallions. Jamshedpur will have to work really hard to stop the Pune attack for and need to avoid the set-piece situation as it can take the game away from them.