PANJIM (Goa): Chennaiyin FC will look for full points against Hyderabad FC in the Indian Super League game at Bambolim on Monday.
CFC are currently seventh with 10 points and remained unbeaten in their last four outings.
They had held ATK Mohun Bagan to a goalless draw in the previous outing. But Hyderabad have lost their previous three games and are eighth with nine points.
CFC coach Csaba Laszlo handed out mixed team news in his pre-match press conference on Sunday.
He confirmed that midfielder Rafael Crivellaro will miss the game against HFC, having been injured following an atrocious tackle by Pronay Halder in the ATKMB game.
At the same time Laszlo also informed that Portuguese attacker Isma will be making a return and definitely be involved on Monday, having missed the last four games through injury.
The creative onus in skipper Rafael’s absence will fall on Chennaiyin’s talented India internationals Lallianzuala Chhangte and midfielder Anirudh Thapa.
Chhangte is capable of operating on either wings, and had scored one goal and assist this season.
Thapa has partnered Memo Moura and Deepak Tangri, but it would be interesting to see how Laszlo shuffles the pack against Hyderabad.
A win over HFC could propel CFC up to fourth place with 13 points. And with the full league phase fixture schedule now out, Laszlo’s men will be hoping to garner as many points as possible, as games come thick and fast with no reprieve.
