East Bengal FC Set to Host Chennaiyin FC in ISL 2023-24 Matchweek Opener: Preview and Key Players to Watch

East Bengal FC will kick off the 17th Matchweek of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 by facing Chennaiyin FC at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on February 26 at 7:30 PM IST. While East Bengal’s form has dipped since their Kalinga Super Cup triumph, they have only managed four points from their last five ISL matches, leaving them in ninth place with 15 points. Jamshedpur FC sits in sixth place with 20 points, but East Bengal still has a chance to climb the table with seven games left.

Chennaiyin FC, on the other hand, finds themselves right above East Bengal in the standings, tied on points but with a better goal difference. Their inconsistency has resulted in only four wins and three draws from 15 games. A recent 1-0 victory over Bengaluru FC was followed by a 2-0 loss to Mumbai City FC at home, highlighting their struggles to find consistency.

Both teams have crucial challenges ahead of them in this encounter. East Bengal will look to break their three-game winless streak at home and improve their record against Chennaiyin FC coach Owen Coyle. Chennaiyin FC, unbeaten in their last seven encounters against East Bengal FC, will aim to turn around their poor away form and rely on their ability to create high turnovers.

Key players to watch out for include Nandhakumar Sekar from East Bengal, who has been in fine form with four goals and three assists this season. For Chennaiyin FC, Ryan Edwards has been a defensive stalwart, contributing to three clean sheets and providing solidity at the back.

The head-to-head record favors Chennaiyin FC, having won twice against East Bengal and drawing five times in seven meetings. However, individual performances from key players could tilt the balance in favor of either side.

Fans can catch all the action in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam on various channels and streaming platforms. The match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two sides vying for a crucial win in the ISL.