AGENCIES, Kolkata: In a League title race that is going down to the wire, ATK cannot afford any slip-ups as they face a struggling NorthEast United FC in a Hero Indian Super League encounter at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan here on Monday.
ATK are placed third on the table, three points behind FC Goa and a point shy of Bengaluru FC. They are fresh off a win against leaders FC Goa while NorthEast United, placed ninth on the table, are on a seven-match winless run.
With a strong record at home this time around (13 points taken from a possible 18), ATK will consider themselves favourites to take all three points against NorthEast. When you filter in the fact that NorthEast United have scored just three goals away from home, the task on their hands seems unenviable.
Roy Krishna, who has scored eight goals so far, is ATK’s biggest threat up front. His directness and ability to bring teammates into play has served Antonio Habas’ side well. However, he has not scored in the last four matches, despite providing assists to his teammates. He will be looking to put an end to that statistic against the team he has already scored a brace against.
“For us, it can be a tricky match because the situation NorthEast is in not really how they play. They play good football, they have signed two players. They have played two matches less than the other teams. It is very difficult, they are a tough opponent. We have to be tough and prepared for this match,” said Habas.
