We take a look at the key talking points ahead of Round Two of the I-League.
Aizawl FC v Minerva Punjab
Friday, January 13, 1:30 pm
Never met before
Under new head coach Khalid Jamil, Aizawl FC came within a minute of making a winning start away to East Bengal last weekend. Hosting Minerva Punjab gives them the ideal opportunity to register their first win of the season. Matches at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Aizawl are typified by a holiday atmosphere, with families setting up barbecues around the football ground, and the high climes of Mizoram should suit the tempo at which Aizawl play. Expect a lot more impact from Alfred Jaryan and Jayesh Rane, both of whom looked dangerous in parts against East Bengal. Minerva will look to their experienced strikers Manandeep and Joel Sunday to chip in with contributions to defence.
Mohun Bagan v Shillong Lajong
Friday, January 13, 7 pm
Pld - 12, W - 4, L - 2, D - 6, GF - 21, GA - 17
Mohun Bagan started their 2017 I-League season with a 1-0 win over Churchill Brothers, and Lajong will be second of three successive home games for the four-time champions to begin the league. Head coach Sanjoy Sen might be inclined to keep some rotation going within the squad, with an AFC Cup preliminary game looming towards the end of the month. Lajong were outplayed in their opening match by champions Bengaluru FC, but playing Bagan often brings the best out of them. They held Bagan to scored draws in both their legs last season, with the 2-2 in Shillong in April coming at a critical time during the Kolkata club's title defence. Expect Cameroonian striker Aser Dipanda, who only played the last 21 minutes in the opening match, to play a bigger role in this match.
Bengaluru FC v Chennai City FC
Saturday, January 14, 7 pm
Never met before
It's the first southern derby of the I-League in a long time, as newcomers Chennai City visit the Kanteerava Stadium to take on champions Bengaluru FC. Chennai were tepid in their I-League debut at home, and required a big performance from goalkeeper Karanjit Singh to keep Minerva Punjab at bay and gain their first point. Their task will be cut out against Bengaluru, who recorded the biggest margin of victory in the first round of matches, and did so without significant contribution from either Sunil Chhetri or Eugeneson Lyngdoh. A win will be vital for Albert Roca, as they face a tricky home clash against Mumbai FC and then travel to East Bengal within eight days of this game.
DSK Shivajians v East Bengal
Saturday, January 14, 7 pm
Pld - 2, W - 1, L - 1, GF - 2, GA - 1
For a team with an impressive bench strength, DSK Shivajians would be disappointed to have begun their season with a 1-0 defeat. Head coach Dave Rogers has impressive Indian performers in the ISL such as goalkeeper Soiram Poirei and defender Jerry Lalrinzuala to go with experienced foreign players like Kim Song Yong and Juan Quero to fall back upon, and they will need to be at their best to beat a quality East Bengal side, fortified with the addition of Robin Singh to their ranks. East Bengal's foreign recruits Willis Plaza and Ivan Bukenya were only able to play bit parts in their opening match, having just flown in a few days prior to the game. They will need to pull their weight for the visitors, who were beaten 2-0 in the corresponding fixture last March.
Churchill Brothers v Mumbai FC
Sunday, January 15, 4:30 pm
Pld - 12, W - 5, L - 3, D - 4, GF - 21, GA - 16
Churchill Brothers return to hosting games in Goa in the I-League for the first time since 2014, and this match takes place at the compact Tilak Maidan in Vasco. This ground is also located just by the Arabian Sea, and the evening breeze can make goalkeeping and defending especially difficult. Santosh Kashyap's Mumbai FC are coming off a morale-boosting win over DSK Shivajians in their first match, and will look to the likes of Thoi Singh, Steven Dias, Siam Hanghal and local lads Victorino Fernandes and Pratesh Shirodkar to keep the momentum going against the former champions. The hosts must put behind the disappointment of an opening-round defeat to Mohun Bagan, and the performance of players such as Kingslee Fernandes, Brandon Fernandes and Surchandra Singh in that game will give their supporters hope.
All stats courtesy Gautam Roy, football historian and media manager of East Bengal football club.