Delhi aiming to go top of the table

With both Delhi Dynamos and Mumbai City FC looking for a win, it is going to be a high voltage encounter as the country's top metros clash in the Hero India Super League.

3 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss in the last five matches. Roberto Carlos' Delhi Dynamos have shown great resilience in the first half of ISL and will be looking for a win against Mumbai City FC.

An ambitious Delhi Dynamos and a determined Mumbai City FC are keen to make the most of the opportunity at hand as they meet in an Indian Super League (ISL) match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Friday.

For Dynamos, locked with table topper Pune City FC on 13 points but behind only on goal difference, this is a chance to settle scores with Mumbai, to whom they had lost 2-0 in an away engagement two weeks ago. A victory will also push Roberto Carlos’ team to top of the table. Meanwhile for Mumbai, tied with two other sides on 10 points in the middle of the pack, this is the time to grab the maximum points before some of their stars, including Haitian Sony Norde and Indian Sunil Chhetri, leave the squad to perform national duty.

Both sides did not hesitate to reveal their intentions. “It is very important for us to win tomorrow so that we can top the table,” said Dynamos coach-cum-player Roberto Carlos on Thursday. Mumbai's assistant coach, Oscar Bruzon, was equally assertive. “We want to take three points. We have nothing else in our mind,” he said.

Dynamos, who drew North East United FC 1-1 in their last match at home, are enjoying a fine run, even though the lack of goals from their forwards remains an area to work upon. However, Carlos downplayed the concern. “The goals will come at the right moment. I am not going to pressure my players.” Dynamos have been grappling with the confusion over where to play striker Adil Nabi but are expected to field the English player of Pakistani origin in Friday's match.

The hosts, who are served well by Dutch midfielder Hans Mulder, will try to concentrate hard and adopt a little caution against a Mumbai team, who have scored 11 goals in comparison to Delhi's six. Mumbai will be aware of their mistakes, including the overconfidence, which resulted in their 4-1 loss to Atletico de Kolkata over the previous weekend.

In order to achieve its objective of pocketing full points, the touring team will pin its hopes on the Norde-Chhetri combination upfront. Spaniard midfielder Cristian Bustos, one of the best passers in the side, is also likely to make it to the starting XI. While putting to rest the 'noise' over Nicolas Anelka's role as a player-cum-manager, Bruzon said, “We are united...All of us are together supporting Nicolas’ decision. And he will demonstrate that on the pitch.”