PREVIEW: Chennai must be cautious before first home game of the season against Delhi

CHENNAIYIN FC DID well to come back from behind and get a lead over Atletico de Kolkata away from home. The way they had to concede at the death of the game and settle for a draw was sheer bad luck. But one thing Materazzi should not be forgetting is that both the goals that they got against ATK also had elements of luck involved.

The first goal came from a Debjit Majumder punch-away that could have gone anywhere. The Mulder shot that went in for the second goal took a deflection off Tiri that beat the keeper. Chennaiyin FC haven't really created a clean goal yet, and their big replacement for Mendoza - Davide Succi - had to be replaced by the familiar old horse Dudu Omagbemi. Even then they had just 2 shots on target in the entire match; the ones that scrappily rolled into the goal.

So when they take on Delhi Dynamos in the first home game of their ISL campaign, they will have to play a cautious game. This is going to be Delhi's first game, and there's not much anyone knows about how this Dynamos team is going to look like during the tournament.

Delhi Dynamos, this time, have a squad that looks nothing like what we have seen before. Usually they go heavy on some star names and make safe bets on players according to their I-League track record. That has let them down over the past two years, and their central philosophy has become slightly more innovative this time around with young talents like Chinglensana Singh, Rupert Nongrum, Kean Lewis, Milan Singh, Arjun Tudu and others coming into the squad. This gives them a level of youth and durability that can be key especially towards the end. 

The Lions' main strength, though, lies in their foreigner-powered attack. Richard Gadze and Badara Badji/Marcelinho make a fine attacking pair. There are Brazilian medios Memo and Bruno Pelissari who can back them up. The focal point of the contest will be the clash of this battering ram with the Dynamos' former defensive talisman John Arne Riise who is with Chennaiyin FC this year.

There's little doubt that this is the best Delhi Dynamos team ever. And Chennaiyin FC are no longer the attacking powerhouse they were last year. This makes it a tight contest. If Chennaiyin FC score an early goal through Jeje or Jayesh, their defence will have enough steam to preserve that lead. But if Delhi Dynamos get a lead, it will be tough for Chennai attackers to chase the game. As far as picking favourites goes, this is a total toss-up. But the result is likely going to be 1-0 or 1-1. 

Which is curious, because every time Chennaiyin FC and Delhi Dynamos have faced each other in this ground has been a goalfest. It was a 2-2 draw in 2014 and a 4-0 mega win for Chennaiyin last year. But perhaps those days of fireworks are over as the footballing minds behind both franchises are playing a longer game with more patience and restraint.