New season. Same passion. Can't wait to see all you guys at the Mumbai Football Arena on Tuesday for our first game of the season!
— Amrinder Singh (@Amrinder_1) September 29, 2018
Come, support us, get behind us, and we promise to give everything we have! 💪🏻🔵 #ApunKaTeam pic.twitter.com/Qra9S5EHH2
It will not come as a surprise if we witness a similar pattern at Mumbai, with the massive overhaul of the squad for the season indicating the same.
Skipper Lucian Goian is the only foreign player to have been retained in the side and is expected to lead the backline this time too. Partnering him at the back could be Anwar Ali for their opening game as sources inside the team suggest that latest centre back recruit Marko Klisura is still to settle into Costa's style of play.
Full-backs is a position that has seen a complete overhaul for Mumbai and with the likes of Subhasish Bose, Souvik Chakrabarti, Shouvik Ghosh and Arnold Issko coming in, it would be interesting to see who Costa prefers when they line up against Jamshedpur at the Mumbai Football Arena.
📸 | Here begins the sound of valor! 💪#JamKeKhelo pic.twitter.com/e4xbhv5sVs
— Jamshedpur FC (@JamshedpurFC) October 1, 2018
Pushing the Islanders on Tuesday (October 2), will be Jamshedpur FC who come into this season after a fine performance in their debut last season.
Though Uruguayan Cesar Fernando has taken over from Steve Coppell as the head coach of the team, Jamshedpur once again look like a formidable outfit this time. And leading this bunch will the Australian legend Tim Cahill.
Preparations are on for our opening showdown. Just two days to go before we welcome @JamshedpurFC at the Arena! #ApunKaTeam 🔵 pic.twitter.com/XhCKDGhXka
— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) September 30, 2018
The former Everton man has been the biggest signing of this season's ISL, but it still remains to be seen how he copes up with the challenges that Indian football posts given his age of 38. Though Cahill is set to miss the Mumbai game due to a suspension, Jamshedpur will have the likes of Spaniards Sergio Cidoncha upfront and Carlos Calvo and Pablo Morgado on the wings to trouble the Mumbai back line.
Jamshedpur has been smart in signing their Indian contingent as well. Bringing on the likes of Dhanachandra Singh - from champions Chennaiyin FC - and Michael Soosairaj from Chennai City FC.
Jamshedpur prided in having one of the stringent defences last season. But with the departure of Andre Bikey and Anas Edathodika it will be an opportunity for Mumbai to test their backline and try getting their campaign off to a fine start.
Match kicks off at 7:30pm IST
Live on Star Sports 1/HD, Star Sports 3
Live streaming on Hotstar, Airtel TV