I-League 2017-18: NEROCA v Minerva Punjab - TV channel, stream, kick-off time & match preview
Second-placed NEROCA FC welcome league leaders Minerva Punjab for an I-League clash to be played at the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal, Manipur, on Saturday afternoon.
Game | |
Date | Wednesday, January 27 |
Time | 2:00 PM IST (GMT +5:30) |
TV CHANNELS & LIVE STREAM
The Star Sports Network have the exclusive broadcasting rights of the I-League. All the matches will be telecast live on Star Sports 2 and 2 HD.
India TV channels | |
|---|---|
Star Sports 2/2HD | Hotstar/JioTV |
TEAM NEWS
NEROCA POSSIBLE XI (4-2-3-1): Shambu Mishtry (GK); Naoba Singh, Varney Kallon, Gouramangi Singh, Moirangmayum Singh; Fabien Vorbe, Aryn Glen Williams; Yumnam Gopi Singh, Singam, Nedo Turkovic, Subash Singh; Felix Odili Chidi.
Injured: Lalit Thapa
Doubtful: None
Key Players: Subhash Singh, Aryn Williams, Felix Chidi
Minerva Punjab POSSIBLE XI (4-2-3-1): Rakshit Dagar; Kamalpreet Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Guy Eric Dano, Abhishek Ambekar; Kamalpreet Singh, Kassim Aidar; Moinuddin Khan, William Opoku, Girk Khosla; Chencho Gyeltshen.
Injured: Arshdeep Singh
Doubtful: None
Key Players: Chencho Gyeltshen, William Opoku
GAME PREVIEW
The top two teams in the I-League this season, Minerva Punjab and NEROCA, lock horns in a vital clash on Saturday in Imphal. Minerva, who are at the summit at the moment will begin their second leg of the league after a gap of 13 days. They last played against Shillong Lajong on January 14th and had won the clash 1-0.
It has been a dream run for the Ranjit Bajaj-owned side who have dropped only five points in the first nine matches. They have put together a good squad this season which comprises of promising young Indian players and quality foreign signings.
Chencho Gyeltshen, popularly known as Bhutanese Ronaldo, and William Opoku in attack have been the standout performers for the club this season. A win against NEROCA would further consolidate their position at the top of the table and take them a step further towards a fairytale ending.
They have the meanest defence in the league, having shipped just the six goals in nine matches. The only injury concern in Minerva is goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh who has been ruled out for the season.
Khogen Singh is likely to make just one change on the starting XI. Girik Khosla, who came on as a substitute against Lajong, will replace Lago Dagbo Bei.
NEROCA FC, who got promoted to I-League this season, are having a dream run in the tournament. They have lost just two matches out of 11. They were on a nine-match unbeaten run before Shillong Lajong brought it to an end earlier this week.
The Manipuri side have only one injury concern in their side. Veteran goalkeeper and skipper Lalit Thapa will remain out of action once again in this crucial tie.
A win for NEROCA will help them narrow the gap with leaders Minerva, while a draw will benefit East Bengal, who are third in the league at the moment.
Expect a cracker of a game on a chilly winter afternoon in Manipur!