Mumbai City vs Chennaiyin Prediction 28.12.2023

• Competition: Indian Super League
• Date: Thursday, 28th, December 2023
• Kickoff: 14:30 UTC / 15.30 CET
• Venue: Mumbai Football Arena (Mumbai)

Mumbai City plays host to Chennaiyin in Indian Super League action at Mumbai Football Arena on Thursday, desperately seeking a return to the winning ways.

Petr Kratky's men are no longer part of the unbeaten sides in the Indian top-flight, as they were outplayed by Kerala Blasters in a direct battle for the second spot, ultimately losing 0-2. Despite the setback, leaving them in fourth place with 19 points in the bank, the Islanders are still within touching distance of table-toppers Goa, trailing by four points, albeit with two more matches played. After the unfortunate conclusion of their AFC Champions League campaign without a single point in six group stage rounds, Mumbai now shifts their focus to the domestic league, aiming to replicate last season's triumph and become regular-season champions.

In contrast to Thursday's host, a similar fate befell Chennaiyin, unable to solidify their playoff spot as they suffered an unexpected 0-1 defeat to Punjab, a team that, prior to their encounter, had been winless. This unfortunate outcome leaves them perched in the final playoff spot with 12 points in their bag, but with no assurance that they will conclude 2023 among the top six, as they are just one point ahead of North East United. Given the importance of the away game against last year's regular season champions, Marina Machans will try to pull off a surprise, even though the bookies see them as underdogs.

Mumbai City vs Chennaiyin Betting Tips: AH2 +1.5

Despite Mumbai being labeled as favorites on paper, we believe Chennaiyin has something to prove and can, at the very least, keep the host to a one-goal difference. The mutual clashes between these teams confirm this, with the Marina Machans covering the +1.5 handicap in 11 out of the last 12 encounters, comprising six straight duels played in the country's largest city at the Mumbai Football Arena.

Additionally, Petr Kratky's men have been rather uncertain throughout the majority of the ongoing campaign, requiring considerable effort to secure their five victories, with only one of those triumphs coming with a margin of more than two goals, while all other four ended in a 2-1 scoreline. On the contrary, Chennaiyin, barring the unexpected setback against second-to-last-placed Punjab in the previous timeout, has left a decent impression, with their attacking zone particularly shining by finding the net seven times in the last four ISL affairs.

The visitors from Tamil Nadu will no doubt stick to their attacking style to try and upset the favored side, and with Mumbai having been less creative and unimaginative in the final third this term, we believe Coyle's men will fancy their chances of an upset.