When Mohun Bagan and Aizawl take the field to play Minerva Punjab and Churchill Brothers respectively, they will know that any mistakes made could potentially see the other team move ahead in the race for the I-League title. Ahead of a potential winner-takes-all clash in Aizawl between the two top contenders next gameweek, on April 22, the two games this Saturday will be crucial for either team to gain the psychological edge.
As we look forward to gameweek 16, we look at two players, who could influence the fortunes of their respective teams. Their performances have been talked about a lot this season, not least because they were also the two most noteworthy omissions from national coach Stephen Constantine's scheme of things during India's run to 101 in the FIFA rankings.
Debjit Majumder - The safe hands that have propped up Bagan's defence
If there's one consistent performer for Mohun Bagan across the last three domestic seasons, it would have to be goalkeeper Debjit Majumder. Not the tallest of men, Majumder has always carried the reputation of an excellent shot-stopper. The difference this year has been his decision-making, especially when coming out to collect crosses and set-pieces. All of these attributes were in evidence in a heroic performance midweek that prevented Shillong Lajong from picking up the win despite making repeated raids on an unsteady Bagan defence.
Majumder has played all but one league match this season, missing the goalless draw away to Bengaluru due to injury, and it should come as no surprise that Mohun Bagan's 10 goals conceded are the fewest among all teams. Majumder, who also played a key role in Atletico de Kolkata winning their second Indian Super League (ISL) title last December, has been in goal for seven of the eight clean sheets for Bagan.
Minerva Punjab may not have the numbers to suggest they will pose the biggest attacking threat for Majumder - their 12 goals scored are the second-lowest after Mumbai FC's eight - but they will look to exploit the indecision shown in the Bagan defence in recent games. The Bagan full-backs were beaten often by Lajong, and you can expect Minerva's younger players like Baoringdao Bodo, Anirudh Thapa and Nigerian forward Victor Amobi to work in tandem and look to beat the Bagan defence with their speed.
Majumder will also need to watch out for the bumpy surface at the Guru Nanak Stadium. His copybook technique of collecting balls with his body behind the ball should come in handy in that regard. He is also similar to fellow Bengal goalkeeper Subrata Pal, in that his distribution of the dead ball is often impeccable in both the timing and the placement of it. If Minerva over-commit in attack, Majumder's ability to swiftly initiate counter-attacks might go on to make the difference.
Jayesh Rane - The man Materazzi nicknamed Neymar
Jayesh Rane is a maverick footballer, who first made his name as a utility footballer for Mumbai FC in the I-League, before moving on to the ISL with Chennaiyin FC and quickly becoming then coach Marco Materazzi's favourite player. The Italian nicknamed him Neymar, and Rane responded with some consistent performances, primarily as a left winger who could seamlessly cut in and contribute to attack, giving his club their first ISL title in 2015.
Rane offers variety to an Aizawl team that has a number of good players, both Indian and foreign in their attack and midfield. He has even played as a holding midfielder in a few matches, but Khalid Jamil, Rane's coach from Mumbai, who took him to the north-eastern club with him might be tempted to prop him further up the field against Churchill Brothers, especially to take on their experienced backline.
He has only two goals this season, with his last coming in the 3-2 defeat away to Mohun Bagan in Kolkata on February 4, but he has missed just six minutes of football this season, highlighting his importance to the team.
The incredible thing about Aizawl's run to the top of the table this year has been that their highest scorer among all players is Ivory Coast striker Kamo Bayi, with four goals. The midfield of Aizawl has been extremely active, and that was also the case in the 1-0 defeat against Bengaluru last week. Rane, however, had a slightly subdued game. If he can start operating with more freedom in midfield, and perhaps alternate attacking roles with Mahmoud Al Amna, then the Churchill Brothers team will not just have a tough time containing the visitors, they would also find it difficult to use their own strength - pace along the wings.