Chennai: The absence of the rival team’s star striker Fikru Teferra will come as sweet news as Chennaiin Friends take on Atletico Kolkata in what would be their third home match in ISL football championship at the Nehru stadium here on Tuesday.
The organisers as well as the teams are hoping that rain would not play spoil sport.
Fikru will not be taking the field here on Tuesday and regale the soccer fans here as he has been handed out a two-match suspension by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on disciplinary grounds.
The game is crucial for Chennaiyin Friends who are in good form after their 4-1 drubbing of Mumbai here last week. They will be fighting to stay at the top of the points table where they perched themselves after the win against Mumbai City FC.
The onus will be on their marquee player Elano Blumer whose brace of goals played a crucial role in the last win, to do an encore.
Chennai’s defence will also be beefed up by five-time English Premier League winner with Manchester United, Mikael Silvestre of France with compatriot Bernard Mendy.
But the two Frenchmen may have theIr hands full with Kolkatta expected to go all out for a win and regain the top spot.
For Atletico, however, captain Luis Garcia is expected to be back and spearhead the challenge. Kolkata were held to a draw by Kerala Blasters in their previous game
The two teams have been the best in ISL so far in its inaugural edition playing themselves into the top two spots in the points table. The table topper Atlético de Kolkata have registered three wins and two draws from their five outings. The Chennai FC team has three victories and a loss in four matches. (UNI)
