Chennai City has been by far the most impressive side in the league, notching up three wins in its four matches, remaining unbeaten with 10 points. Former champion Aizawl, on the other hand, is yet to win a match and has crashed to two defeats and managed two draws in the four games it has played so far.

Gift Raikhan, the coach of the home side, who had a wonderful run with debutant Neroca FC in the last edition, has found the going comparatively tough at Aizawl, with his three main goal scorers scoring just three goals between them, two of which came via the penalty spot. Three of the four Aizawl goals, in this campaign, have come from set pieces, further indicating a complete lack of ideas up front.

The Aizawl coach seemed well aware of the task at hand “The results have not been good enough. We need to regroup and approach together on the pitch. The boys are a little bit down because of the results. But collectively we will work hard and give our best. Football is a team game and we should believe in one another,” said Gift. Contrastingly for Chennai City and its new coach Akbar Nawas, it has been a dream start to its campaign.

Not only has it scored 11 times - four more than second best Gokulam, and notched up three victories, its Spanish signings have been on fire, with Pedro Manzi sitting on top of the goal scoring chart with four goals to his name. Coach Nawas acknowledged the role played by the Spaniards in the pre-game chat elaborating: “Yes, the Spanish players are doing well, but they can improve further in the style that we are playing.” The host, unless it turns things around dramatically, will find it difficult to come away with a positive result on Saturday.

The visitor will however be eyeing nothing short of a victory to secure its three consecutive away win.