Hyderabad FC (HFC) will take on two-time champions Chennaiyin FC in the fifth match of Indian Super League 2021-22 at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim on Tuesday, November 23.
Under the tutelage of Manuel Márquez Roca, Hyderabad FC had an impressive season in ISL 7, narrowly missing out on a playoff spot after finishing fifth in the standings. The Nizams have roped in former Mumbai City FC forward Bartholomew Ogbeche, ex-ATK Mohun Bagan midfielder Edu Garcia and former Bengaluru FC defender Juanan to strengthen their squad.
On the other hand, Chennaiyin FC will look to bounce back after finishing a disappointing eighth in the last edition of ISL. The Marina Machans have appointed a new coach in Božidar Bandović and also named India international Anirudh Thapa as their new captain. Chennaiyin have recruited five new foreigners and also signed some talented Indians for ISL 8.
HFC vs CFC Dream11 prediction
The Hyderabad FC vs Chennaiyin FC head-to-head shows that both sides have won two matches each in encounters against each other. Interestingly, HFC had won both their clashes in the last edition of ISL and will head into the new campaign with a slight edge over new-look Chennaiyin FC.
HFC vs CFC Dream11 team tips for Indian Super League 2021-22
Top tip: Best forward
Bartholomew Ogbeche has been one of the top strikers in the ISL since making his debut for NorthEast United in 2018. The 37-year-old Nigerian has already netted 35 goals in 57 matches and is only behind Ferran Corominas (48) and Sunil Chhetri (47) in the all-time ISL goal-scorers list. Having made his move from Mumbai City FC to Hyderabad FC this season, Ogbeche will be looking to open his account for the Nizams on Tuesday.
Top tip: Best midfielder
Newly-appointed Chennaiyin FC captain Anirudh Thapa will be the player to watch out for in midfield. The 23-year-old played an instrumental role in Chennaiyin reaching the final of ISL 2019-20. Thapa has bagged five goals and provided nine assists in 69 ISL matches so far and will look to control the tempo from midfield against Jamshedpur FC.
Top tip: Best defender and goalkeeper
Hyderabad FC centre-back Chinglensana Singh was one of the standout players in the last edition of ISL. The Manipur-born footballer had formed a formidable centre-back pairing with Odei Onaindia, conceding 19 goals in 20 matches. Chinglensana is once again expected to play an important role at the heart of the defence for Hyderabad FC in their season opener.
For the goalkeeper spot, Chennaiyin’s Vishal Kaith will be the overwhelming choice over error-prone Laxmikant Kattimani of Hyderabad FC. Kaith had made 51 saves in 20 matches for Chennaiyin last season and he will look to stop the likes of Bartholomew Ogbeche and Joel Chianese on Tuesday.
HFC vs CFC full squads
Hyderabad FC Squad
Goalkeepers: Laxmikant Kattimani, Lalbiakhlua Jongte, Gurmeet Singh, Manas Dubey
Defenders: Nim Dorjee Tamang, Chinglensana Singh, Juanan, Akash Mishra, Dimple Bhagat, Nikhil Prabhu, Souvik Chakraborty, Asish Rai, Kynsailang Khongsit
Midfielders: Joao Victor, Mohammed Yasir, Edu Garcia, Sahil Tavora, Hitesh Sharma, Abdul Rabeeh, Mark Zothanpuia, Nikhil Poojary, Halicharan Narzary
Forwards: Joel Chianese, Javier Siverio, Aniket Jadhav, Abhishek Halder, Bartholomew Ogbeche, Rohit Danu, Ishan Dey
Chennaiyin FC Squad
Goalkeepers: Vishal Kaith, Samik Mitra, Debjit Majumder, Devansh Dabas
Defenders: Reagan Singh, Salam Ranjan Singh, Edwin Sydney Vanspaul, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Narayan Das, Deepak Devrani, Davinder Singh, Slavko Damjanovic, Balaji Ganesan
Midfielders: Ninthoinganba Meetei, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Rafael Crivellaro, Ariel Borysiuk, Anirudh Thapa, Germanpreet Singh, Subhadip Majhi
Forwards: Johnson Mathews, Rahim Ali, Jobby Justin, Mirlan Murzaev, Suhail Pasha, Vladimir Koman, Lukasz Gikiewicz
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Featured photo: Indian Super League
