Both Chennaiyin FC and Pune City FC were semi-finalists in the ISL Cup in the last season. This year they are both languishing in the bottom half of the table with little chances of making it to the playoffs. The Marina Machans will be hosting the Stallions for a match in which both the teams will want to win and finish in the middle of the ten teams, ISL points table.

Chennayin FC

The beleaguered Chennaiyin FC is at the bottom of the table with 5 points having won only one game against Pune this season. They have conceded 25 goals so far while scoring only 13 in their 13 matches so far. To compound their problem they have recently parted ways with Inigo Calderon, their efficient right back. Jeje Lapukhlua, who scored a lot of 9 goals last year, has not found the net yet. John Gregory will have a job on his hands in an effort to keep the Pune attackers from finding the net. But Chennaiyin FC are this time armed with CK Vineet and Halicharan Nazary borrowed from Kerala Blasters during the break.

Pune City FC

Last season they were defeated by Bengaluru in the semi-finals. This year they are in the 7th position in the league table having scored 12 goals and letting in 21. Marcelinho has so far scored three goals in the ten matches that he has played. They sacked their coach Miguel Agnel Portugal after only 3 matches into the season. The Englishman Phil Brown has now taken over the reins as the coach. Pune City has not yet won a game against Chenniayin in the 9 matches that they have played against each other in the league.

Current form of the two teams

As can be seen from the screenshot below, Chennaiyin FC comes with a string of four losses preceded by a draw while Pune City FC is going into the game with two wins under their belt.

Head to head

As mentioned before Pune City FC has never won against Chennaiyin FC either at home or away; a record they will hope to set right this time.

Players to watch out for

For Chennaiyin FC Thoi Singh is an active midfielder and has scored four goals so far this season. Raphael Agusto and Eli Sabia are two other players who are capable of scoring for the Marina Machans.

The Stallions have Marcelinho, Marko Stankovic and Diego Carlos among the players who have opened their accounts this year. Robin Singh is another forward that the Chennaiyins will have to look out for although he has not yet found the back of the net this season.

My bets

Pune City coming on the back of an away win against Goa has the capability to surprise Chennaiyin at home. I have placed my bets win or a draw for Pune City FC @ 1.33 and a win @2.08 for the same team.