I-LEAGUE Media Team

MUMBAI: Returning after the international break, Mumbai FC and Pune FC will lock horns at the Cooperage football ground in a Hero I-League game in what promises to be a mouth-watering Maha Derby on Sunday.

The last time these two teams met, Pune pipped Mumbai 3-2 to go top of the table. They will have a similar opportunity on Sunday but unlike last time, Mumbai will go into the match with a lot of confidence.

After a slow start to the season, Mumbai have turned on the >

The hosts will be without the services of their two key men. Jayesh Rane, who has been influential with his penetrating runs and precise passes in the last few matches, is with the national U-23 squad for the AFC Asian Championship qualifiers and will miss the tie.

Striker Josimar da Silva, meanwhile, is suspended after he accumulated four yellow cards. Josimar is the league’s fourth-highest scorer, finding the back of the net five times in eight matches. His presence has created trouble for rival defences and against a strong Pune defence marshalled by Brazilian Luciano Sobrosa.

In Rane and Josimar’s absence, the onus will once again be on Japanese Taisuke Matsugae to be the creative outlet while the two centre-backs, Justin Stephen and Chika Wali too will have their task cut out. The duo will be up against Montenegrin international Darko Nikac.

The striker was on the score-sheet when Pune played Mumbai last time and will fancy his chances once again. The presence of Ryuji Sueoka too is likely to create trouble for Mumbai.

Nikac and Sueoka along with Edgar Marcelino missed Pune’s previous match against Royal Wahingdoh due to injuries. However, except Sueoka, others are expected to be back for Sunday’s encounter. Pune goalkeeper Amrinder Singh too has been impressive in the first half of the season, showing confidence and authority inside the box to become Bencherifa’s go-to man this season.

Both teams are hoping that their momentum doesn’t break because of the break. Bencherifa said: “For a team like ours, we have to be aware that this break can be bad. We had nice momentum, we ended the last phase with the win and were unbeaten. I wish we could continue that.

“I discussed this with the players and because we are aware of what can happen, we are well prepared. We were missing a few players because of injury and they got time to recover. So the break was good in that sense. We used it to recover and also played a few friendly matches in Mumbai to prepare for this match as well as rest of the season.”

Mumbai FC coach Khalid Jamil said: “We will miss Josimar because he is our main striker. But we have used the break to train our reserve strikers. I am sure they will deliver against Pune, who have good quality foreign and Indian players.”

Match KO: Mar 22 @ 7 PM IST (Ten Action)
 

Hashtag: #MUMvPFC, #MahaDerby