Super Opener: It's home advantage Chennai as ATK struggles with pressure and injuries

IT RAINED ON FRIDAY NIGHT. Right after the teams were done with their practice sessions and left for their hotels. Right after the DJ booth, fireworks system, the loud speakers and the make-shift stage received its final touches. Right after Mrs Nita Ambani set up a shrine of Sri Ganesha at one corner of the stadium and performed a puja. Right after Bollywood stars had visited and rehearsed their routines. 

It rained on Friday night. The grass will still bear the moisture in the evening. The soil underneath will still be soft. Some of the players, like Arnab Mondal, Harmanjot Khabra and Balwant Singh, will be hoping it continues till afternoon. They'll have their longer studs ready, just in case. 

Football in rain usually means advantage for a Kolkata team. But away from home in Chennai, Atletico de Kolkata are feeling the pressure. They feel the pressure of being the defending champions. They feel the pressure of remembering the last year's encounters with Chennaiyin FC where it took a stellar performance from Josemi and the defenders to earn two draws.

The same Josemi, who is their captain, is out injured. So are Tiri and Nalappan Mohanraj. Goalkeeper Calatayud was feeling unwell a couple of days ago. Jewel Raja fell unwell during practice earlier this week and was spared the travel to Chennai. Defender Lalchhawnkima is down with something viral and has been ruled out of the game.

And they don't have enough Kolkata in them to take advantage of the rain.

Chennaiyin FC are slighty troubled by injuries as well. Dhanachandra Singh picked up a knock recently and was ruled out of the game. Dhanpal Ganesh also got injured, and his injury is more serious. He's out till March. Keeper Karanjit Singh also went through some pain but he has recovered now.

The home team is visibly under less pressure. Manager Materazzi was full of praise for some of his players in the pre-match pressr. Harmanjot Khabra, the loanee from East Bengal, is believed by the Manager to be capable of playing in Italy. Defender Abhishek Das, another East Bengal loanee, should be playing in the Indian national team, according to him. 

Materazzi is mighty impressed by Ethiopian striker Fikru Teferra as well. Fikru was playing for Atletico de Kolkata last year and his season ended in disputes with the team's coach, leading to him being dropped from the final. The fiesty forward will definitely be looking forward to today's match as an opportunity to get back at his old team. 

But more than Fikru it's Elano Blumer who is troubling ATK coach Antonio Habas. The Brazilan attacking midfielder played only 9 games for Chennaiyin last season, and that was enough for him to notch up 8 goals and finish as the top scorer of the tournament. To counter his lethal free-kicks, Atletico de Kolkata practiced set-pieces in secret back in Kolkata, by erecting temporary walls around the penalty area at Barasat Stadium. 

But the ATK coach will be taking confidence from how Helder Postiga, his new marquee player, has shown good form in the pre-season. He and Iain Hume are combining well. Oftense Nato and Javi Lara, too, have put up assuring displays. And so has Borja.

But in the end it's going to be advantage Chennaiyin FC tonight. Injury-torn Atletico de Kolkata will have to bite down on their defence to keep Fikru and Elano out. 

So after Bollywood stars like Aishwarya Rai, Aliya Bhatt, Arjun Kapoor and others do their bit in the gala opening ceremony, football fans will be treated to a no holds barred game of football where the defending champions will take on a strong title challenger in the home team. Two seasoned footballing minds will clash. And the second season of the Indian Super League will get a fitting opening act.

Probable starting line-ups:

Atletico de Kolkata - Amrinder Singh, Rino Anto, Arnab Mondal, Oftense Nato, Javi Lara, Arata Izumi, Borja, Baljit Singh Sahni, Iain Hume, Helder Postiga.

Chennaiyin FC - Karanjit Singh, Eder, Mailson Alves, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Abhishek Das, Harmanjot Khabra, Manuele Blasi, Bruno Pelissari, Elano, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Fikru Teferra 
 

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