Delhi Dynamos’ resurgence has already taken the side to the fifth spot in the Indian Super League.
A win over second-placed Atletico de Kolkata at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Tuesday could mean Harm van Veldhoven’s side finally breaches the top tier.
The visitor’s indifferent form will only give rise to greater optimism within Dynamos’ camp. One win in seven matches has offset the advantages gained through 10 points in the first four games by Kolkata.
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A win for Dynamos will reduce the gap between the side and Kolkata to a point in the table.
Till now, the latter has seemed aloof of the developments below but it may get sucked into the scrap that has seen the involvement of no less than six sides. Dynamos’ rise however, will have to continue without defenders Wim Raymaekers and Pavel Elias.
The duo has been ruled out for the season. Bruno Arias and Robert Lalthlamuana could also miss Tuesday’s encounter.
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Dynamos, though, will be boosted by the return of Alessandro Del Piero, who has recovered from a stomach problem. However, considering the host’s front three has functioned exceptionally well without the Italian, it seems unlikely he will return to the starting eleven.
Francis Fernandes has especially gained from playing at the tip of the attack. His movement has troubled opposition defenders particularly; the 29-year-old likes to drift wide frequently. It will be interesting to see how Kolkata respond to Delhi’s swift movement and interchange of positions.
The visitor has earned a reputation for adopting a physical approach and van Veldhoven acknowledged this as a threat too. “We need to use our own quality, and keep the ball on the ground. Our pace can cause them problems too,” said the Dynamos manager.