Mumbai City FC host Jamshedpur FC in the ISL on Thursday, as the Islanders look to strengthen their standing within the top 4, and put pressure on Chennaiyin FC, who are in hot form.
Jorge Costa's men won their last game - 1-0 at home against NorthEast United, with a goal from Diego Carlos, and are now faced with another home game against a struggling side.
Jamshedpur's capitulation since losing Piti to injury has been spectacular, and now with Sergio Castel back, they are just not able to get the ball to him often enough for him to make a big impact.
Antonio Iriondo's side lost their last game 3-0 to ATK.
Mumbai City FC v Jamshedpur FC: Match information
Date: 31st January 2020
Kickoff: 7:30 PM IST
Live Stream: Star Sports Network and Hotstar
Venue: Mumbai Football Arena
Mumbai City FC v Jamshedpur FC: Team news
Mumbai will be forced to make one change, as Modou Sougou is unavailable owing to a suspension. In his absence, Serge Kevyn is could be drafted into the starting XI, as is the case with Pratik Chaudhari, who is expected to return after serving his suspension. Jorge Costa likes a settled lineup and the home side are not expected to make too many changes to their team.
For Jamshedpur, Tiri and Piti are expected to remain ruled out, and Jitendra Singh is suspended, after being sent off in their last game against ATK. Bikash Jairu could come in at left-back to replace Jitendra, with Memo and Joyner Lourenco manning the centre-back positions.
Mumbai City FC v Jamshedpur FC: Probable lineups
Mumbai City FC: Amrinder Singh, Sarthak Golui, Prathik Chaudhari, Mato Grgic, Subhasish Bose, Sourav Das, Rowllin Borges, Mohamed Larbi, Diego Carlos, Serge Kevyn, Amine Chermiti
Jamshedpur FC: Subrata Paul, Narender Gahlot, Joyner Lourenco, Memo, Bikash Jairu, Aitor Monroy, Amarjit Singh, Noe Acosta, Farukh Choudhary, Sergio Castel, David Grande
Mumbai City FC v Jamshedpur FC: ISL form guide
Mumbai City FC: W-D-W-L-L
Jamshedpur FC: L-L-W-L-L
Mumbai City FC v Jamshedpur FC head-to-head
The two sides have faced each other five times before, with Mumbai having beaten Jamshedpur only once.
That was in the reverse fixture earlier this season. Mumbai won 2-1, thanks to goals from Paulo Machado and Raynier Fernandes, whose winner came after Tiri had cancelled out Machado's opener.
Mumbai City FC - 1
Jamshedpur FC wins - 3
Draws - 1
Mumbai City FC v Jamshedpur FC prediction
Jamshedpur look bereft of ideas, and without Tiri, they look porous at the back as well. Mumbai, on the other hand, will look to claim back-to-back home wins, and definitely start as favourites to do so.
Prediction: Mumbai City FC 2-0 Jamshedpur FC