Starting XIs
HYDERABAD XI - Laxmikant Kattimani, Chinglensana, Odei Onaindia, Nikhil Poojary, Manoj Mohammad, Halicharan Narzary, Hitesh Sharma, Mohammad Yasir, Joao Victor, Joel Chianese, Bartholomew Ogbeche
MUMBAI XI - Phurba Lachenpa, Rahul Bheke, Mourtada Fall, Mandar Rao Dessai, Apuia Ralte, Vinit Rai, Greg Stewart, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Bipin Singh, Jorge Pereira Diaz
Mumbai City FC's strong pre-season
Mumbai City FC won five of their first six games last season but couldn't sustain that form and finished fifth in the league. To go one step further, they have signed last season's Hero of the League winner, Greg Stewart, from Jamshedpur FC. They have also added Rostyn Griffiths, Alberto Noguera, and Jorge Pereyra Diaz to their squad, and have the most experienced foreign contingent in the ISL, with a combined 253 Hero ISL games between them.
Mumbai City FC had a strong pre-season phase, making it to the Durand Cup finals and ending as runners-up to Bengaluru FC. Des Buckingham, Mumbai City FC's head coach, said that their seven games in that tournament served as great preparation heading into the new ISL season and was exactly what they had wanted. With their season officially kicking off on Sunday, Buckingham said his team was excited to play in front of fans again.
How Hyderabad FC look this year
Hyderabad FC have retained their core, re-signed centre-back Odei Onaindia, and shored up their defensive department by adding Reagan Singh and Alex Saji. Manolo Marquez, the Hyderabad FC head coach, revealed that this continuity is one of the strengths of the team.
"I think we are a team with a lot of continuity. I think that is one of the keys to our success in the last two seasons. And of course, we signed some players and they have minutes during the Durand Cup and they took advantage of these minutes," Marquez said.
Stay connected with The Bridge on #socials.