It's Chennaiyin FC's solid defence vs Mumbai City FC's attacking flair in ISL

CHENNAI: Chennaiyin FC have been a mixed bag in the ISL so far. While their defensive organisation has ensured that they hardly let goals in, lack of sharpness upfront has stopped them from scoring more than four --- lowest among the 11 teams --- after four games.
Both these factors will not escape coach Des Buckingham's attention as Mumbai City FC will aim to bring Chennaiyin FC's unbeaten run of four matches to an end when the sides meet at the Fatorda Stadium in Margao on Wednesday.Chennaiyin are placed fourth with eight points from four matches.
Mumbai City themselves have been relentless in the tournament. Apart from a loss against Hyderabad FC, they have scored goals – 16 – for fun to occupy the top spot in the table with 12 points from five games.
Buckingham still had a word of caution for his wards. "CFC have been the only team in the league who are unbeaten. So it will be a challenge for my side. I have urged my boys not to get carried away and respect the opposition. CFC might not be scoring goals but they have been creating a lot of chances. So we have to remain cautious as CFC can pick our game to score goals. But I can promise one thing: We are not going to sit back and defend. We will play our natural style and that is to attack and score goals because we want to continue our winning momentum (of 3 matches)," said Buckingham on the eve of the tie.
CFC defenders then will need to remain alert to the threat of the in-form striker Igor Angulo and midfielders Cassio Gabriel and Ahmed Jahouh. "We have analysed all their (Mumbai City) matches. They are a very good team. We have a plan and we will stick to that and I hope we are going to have a good performance. They are not only a high pressing team but also good technically as well as in the attack. We need to play better football and the unbeaten run is not enough," Chennaiyin FC coach Bozidar Bandovic said.
While the match-up between the most potent attack and most miserly defence is a mouth-watering one, CFC attackers Lukas Gikiewicz, Vladimir Koman and Anirudh Thapa will also need to rise to the occasion and find form if they are to stop the Mumbai juggernaut.
Bandovic said his side needs to find the right balance on Wednesday. "You need to have a good balance between attack and defence and that is very important because if you don't defend well and concede chances then they (Mumbai City) will score for sure. We didn't win the last game but I'm happy with the character my players showed after conceding a goal. I want them to believe in themselves. Defence and transition wise we are good but we need to do more in attacking," the 52-year-old coach said.