Hyderabad, Mumbai gear up for decisive clash

Hyderabad: Hyderabad FC to kick-off the crucial month of February with a show-stopping Indian Super League fixture this Saturday. HFC take on league leaders Mumbai City FC at the Mumbai Football Arena in a 5:30pm kick-off in search of three crucial points in the race to the League Shield.

Hyderabad (2nd, 35 pts from 15 games) are fresh from a 2-0 victory over East Bengal two weeks back, while Mumbai City (1st, 42 pts from 16 games) beat Jamshedpur FC in a close encounter in the last round.

Des Buckingham's side are currently unbeaten in the league and are breaking records in their challenge to the ISL shield this season. They have been clinical in front of goal, and stand as the best attack in the league scoring 47 goals in just 16 games.

Jorge Pereyra Diaz, who has nine goals to his name, is the leading goalscorer for MCFC so far this season and will be the danger man for Hyderabad. But the likes of Lallianzuala Chhangte, Greg Stewart, Bipin Singh and Alberto Noguera have also been ruthless and will prove to be a tough test for Hyderabad this weekend.

Speaking about this game, HFC Head Coach Manolo Marquez was all praises for his opponents. "We know we will face the best team in the competition in this game. They have a very good coach and really good players, both foreigners and Indian players and are one of the toughest teams to face," said the Spaniard.

"They are a complete team, have been lucky with injuries and play with the same team every week, which helps. So, we are ready for a difficult game in Mumbai," he added.

Hyderabad, who remain the last team to beat Mumbai in the league, have also been in fine form, dropping points in just one of their last seven games. Bartholomew Ogbeche, Javi Siverio, Mohammad Yasir, Halicharan Narzary, Joel Chianese and Borja Herrera have been effective in front of goal but it is the grit and determination at the back that has put them in a place to push Mumbai City for the ISL summit.