Mumbai City FC vs Hyderabad FC Prediction: Hyderabad find themselves at bottom

Mumbai City FC will welcome Hyderabad FC in Gameweek 5 of the Indian Super League at Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai. Mumbai have been disspointing in the AFC cup but will look to bounce back in ISL. Who will win? 

Mumbai City's campaign in the AFC Champions League has encountered significant challenges, as they currently find themselves at the bottom of the Group D standings, having not yet earned a single point after three matches. Furthermore, they have struggled to find the back of the net, failing to score any goals themselves while conceding 11 goals in those three encounters.

However, despite this disappointment, head coach Des Buckingham aims to shift their focus to the Indian Super League, where they have made an impressive start to the season. The Islanders have gathered seven points from their initial three games and are determined to maintain their positive momentum as they face Hyderabad FC, who are positioned at the bottom of the league and have yet to secure any points.

In a press briefing before the match, Buckingham emphasized the need for a cautious approach against the Nizams, acknowledging their opponent's strong desire to kick-start their season.

Phurba Lachenpa; Rahul Bheke (C), Tiri, Rostyn Griffiths, Akash Mishra; Vinit Rai, Apuia Ralte, Greg Stewart; Bipin Singh, Jorge Pereyra Diaz, Lallianzuala Chhangte

Conversely, Hyderabad FC currently occupies the last position in the table, having experienced three consecutive losses to East Bengal FC, Jamshedpur FC, and Chennaiyin FC.

While their performance notably showed improvement in their initial home match against the Marina Machans, they encountered challenges in terms of effectiveness in the attacking third, despite maintaining a high possession rate (68%) and dictating the pace of the game with 381 accurate passes compared to their opponent's 124.

Head coach Thangboi Singto is under significant pressure to secure a positive outcome against a formidable adversary. Nevertheless, he maintains his confidence in his team's readiness for the upcoming match.

Gurmeet Singh Chahal; Nikhil Poojary, Chinglansana Singh, Oswaldo Alanis, Vignesh Dakshinamurthy; Joao Victor (C), Sahil Tavora; Mohammad Yasir, Aaren D’Silva, Joe Knowles; Jonathan Moya 

Mumbai City will unquestionably take to the field as the favored team, given their formidable recent form and familiarity with their home conditions.

Nevertheless, historical records indicate that the Nizams have consistently engaged in fierce battles with the Islanders. The last time the ISL's only two-time champions secured a league victory over Hyderabad was in 2020. Mumbai City will aim to secure a three-point win with a substantial goal margin.