The Indian Super League’s Monday clash will see Chennaiyin FC and Hyderabad FC lock horns at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium, Hyderabad. Both teams currently placed seventh and eighth on the ISL table respectively could see as big as a four-place leap with a win with a margin of more than three goals.

While the situation reads almost the same for both the sides, CFC coming in this game with two consecutive draws and Hyderabad with three losses, the former would be under tremendous pressure in the absence of skipper Rafael Crivellaro. The midfielder will be missing Monday’s game owing to an injury sustained on December 29 against ATK Mohun Bagan.

Addressing the team’s issues, coach Csaba Laszlo was asked about the poor finishing the strikers have shown in the eight matches they’ve played this season. The team has given away goals from set pieces and have failed to see the face of victory on six occasions so far.

“We are working on it. We conceded all together seven goals, five from set-pieces. The last game was a clean-sheet and we have to continue in this way. We have good players who can defend,” Laszlo said at the press meet ahead of Monday’s game, according to PTI.

The manager further added that Portuguese attacker Isma was set to return after an injury enforced break and that could be good news for them. However, the onus to lead the attack will still fall largely on Lallianzuala Chhangte and midfielder Anirudh Thapa.

A clash against Hyderabad FC – a team that seems to have tapered off after a bright start– will be a golden opportunity for CFC to get back to winning ways.

Hyderabad’s loss to FC Goa, with the winning goals coming in the last five minutes, highlights the fragile defence line that the CFC attackers can feed on.

The CFC coach Laszlo isn’t taking Hyderabad FC lightly and said they had been playing really well, adding “every team must be careful to play against them.” The Hyderabad team has suffered three losses on the bounce and coach Manuel Marquez would be hoping for a turnaround quickly as play-off hopes could slip away quickly.

Marquez said CFC boasts of several good players and they would need to step up if the side has to return to winning ways.