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We have witnessed two hard-fought games in the last couple of days, but they lacked the most important element in a football match, a goal. Chennaiyin FC and FC Goa will lock horns on matchday 3 of ISL 2017 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Chennai.
Both the teams played out a mouth-watering final during the second season of the tournament, where Chennai clinched the title by virtue of two late goals. After failing to make a cut to the final 4 in the previous season, the new-look Chennai and Goa outfits will be looking for a fresh start to the campaign.
Chennaiyin FC
Chennayin FC for the first time will be without their biggest asset, Marco Materazzi, who served as the coach and also played a few matches for the past three years. Jeje Lalpekhlua has been a standout performer for the Abhishek Bachchan-owned team and is likely to start as a striker alongside new Nigerian recruit Jude Nworuh and Thoi Singh as the third forward.
Meanwhile, Raphael Augusto who was retained from previous years will be playing as the main architect in the midfield alongside Jaimie Gavilan who is making a comeback to the ISL after a one year gap, and Indian Bikramjit Singh will aid the two foreigners.
In the defence, seasoned campaigner Dhanachandra Singh will be playing as a side back while Kenaan Almeida will be looking after the other side. The former NorthEast United FC player will be playing at the heart of the defence with Spanish debutant Inigo Calderon. Karanjit is the first choice goalkeeper for the Chennai-based team.
Chennaiyin FX Predicted XI (4-3-3): Karanjit Singh; Dhanachandra, Mailson Alves, Keegan Almeida, Inigo Calderon; Bikramjit Singh, Gavilan, Raphael Augusto; Thoi Singh, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Jude Nworuh.
FC Goa
With legendary Brazilian Zico not continuing for a fourth season, FC Goa will be playing under a new setup. The striking feature of FC Goa this year is that there is not a single Brazilian player, compared to the seven last year. The appointment of coach Sergio Lobera saw more Spanish players being inducted into the squad. The likes of Manual Arana, Chechi and Edu Bedia have been brought in this season.
Narayan Das is likely to be playing as a left-back with Chinglensana on the other side. Meanwhile, former Barcelona B player Sergio Marin (Chechi) is set to take up the role of a central defender, alongside Serington Fernandes.
Indian playmakers Pronay Halder and Mandar Rao Desai are most likely to control the midfield with Brandon Fernandes playing a more attacking role. Manuel Arana Rodriguez is set to lead the attack from the wing with Manvir Singh on the other side.
Meanwhile, Spanish striker Ferran will shoulder the responsibility of scoring the goals.
FC Goa Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Laxmikant Kattimani; Narayan Das, Sergio Martin, Seriton Fernandes, Chinglensana Konsham; Pronay Haldar, Mandar Rao Desai; Brandon Fernandes, Manuel Rodriguez, Manvir Singh; Ferran.
Prediction
Chennaiyin FC 0-1 FC Goa
With the first two matches not yielding a single goal, We hope that we get te first goal of he ISL in the third game. FC Goa seem to have a balanced side, which leads us to believe that they could come out as the winners in this contest.
