FC Pune City will know the importance of picking up wins at home and they will hope three points come their way on Sunday when they host Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League. Chennai, after a difficult start in ISL 2016, are playing like the champions again, so Pune will need to be at their best if they are to give their home fans something to cheer about.
Pune currently are in need of a boost, having picked up just four points from four matches, and they will look to the doggedness and fighting spirit they showed against Kerala Blasters in their last game. Down a goal, Pune found a way back to earn a point and they will want to make that three against Chennai.
The side from Maharashtra have had to deal with the handicap of not having Antonio Lopez Habas in the dugout owing to a four-match suspension, but now that that particular ban is over, Pune will hope their manager's return will coincide with a much-required victory.
"Till now the assistant coach [Miguel] had been working with the team, and he has done well," Habas said. "The players have done well. But obviously when the head coach is on the bench, the players are more confident and positive.
"I hope that the players play well with me on the bench tomorrow. I am 100 per cent confident that tomorrow will be a good result for us. This is my profession, I trust my players 100 per cent."
Confidence in his players alone will not do, because Pune City will be up against a Chennaiyin team riding high after two consecutive victories. Following two losses to begin the season, Chennai have bounced back brilliantly and are again playing like the side that won the title last season.
Owing to the non-stop nature of the league, though, Marco Materazzi, the manager, is set to ring in the changes for this matchup, something that Pune might take advantage of.
"We know it's a difficult league," Materazzi told reporters. "We knew from the start that there can be nine days of recovery, or six or even three. I will definitely be making a few changes.
"I strongly believe that the worst mistake is to make the same players play. It is true that these changes will change the formation but, you see, if the same players play there are lots of injuries and we would want to avoid that."
Where to Watch Live
Pune City vs Chennaiyin is scheduled for a 7pm IST (2.30pm BST, 9.30am ET) start. Live Streaming and TV information is below.
India: TV: Star Sports 1, Star Sports HD1, Star Gold, Jalsha Movies, Asianet Movies. Live Streaming: Hotstar (also available in other territories).
UAE: TV: Abu Dhabi Sports.
UK: TV: Star Gold.
Europe, South East Asia: TV: EuroSport.
USA and Australia: TV: Fox Sports.
Canada: TV: CBN, ATN.
