ISL 2026-27: Chennaiyin FC looks to address scoring woes against in-form East Bengal

Chennaiyin FC coach Clifford Miranda says the team is well prepared despite few pre-season matches, aiming to end scoring woes against an East Bengal side that has nine goals in two ISL games.

Updated : Nov 06, 2026 19:33 IST , CHENNAI - 4 MINS READ

Head coach Clifford Miranda, and forward Brison Fernandes during the pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s match against East Bengal. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

On paper, Chennaiyin FC seems short on preparation compared to its upcoming opponent, East Bengal. The Red and Gold Brigade got down to business early this year, playing 13 competitive games before the start of the season, including three on the continental stage.

Chennaiyin, by contrast, played just seven friendlies.

But ahead of the clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Saturday, Chennaiyin head coach Clifford Miranda asserted that the sizeable difference in pre-season “doesn’t make us inferior.”

“I cannot complain about having less pre-season or having not played enough. I have nothing to hide, and we are prepared just like we were prepared for the first game (of the season) against Goa,” Miranda said on the eve of the game.

And perhaps he is right; there is, in fact, nothing to hide. Although there has been nothing to show either for the two-time ISL champion, which has just found the back of the net 10 times in 17 games since the start of last season, including one in four this campaign.

The conversion in front of goal has been poor, to say the least, with Miranda admitting that his forwards have lacked the required composure, stating that “the problem for us right now is not about creating or getting into positions to score goals.”

He will be hoping his men can find their shooting boots, especially Indian attackers Brison Fernandes and Irfan Yadwad. The duo will be eager to find some sort of rhythm and carry it to India’s SAFF Championship 2026 camp in Bangladesh, when they travel in the following days.

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But Chennaiyin’s attacking woes will have to take a back seat to defensive challenges that await against the title holder that has netted nine in two games so far this season, with Ake Loba, Bipin Singh and Dani Ramirez grabbing two goals each.

Adding to the concerns, the South Indian club will not have the services of Rwandan defender Emmanuel Imanishimwe after he was sent off in the previous game for an off-the-ball altercation with Kerala Blasters’ Andre Green (who was also sent off), a red card that Miranda believes was undeserved.

“I saw the replays and my player wasn’t at fault at all. The (Kerala) striker was trying to make a run, and Emmanuel tried to obstruct him. The retaliation from the Kerala player was not good, and that got him the red card. And I think Emmanuel got shown a second yellow to kind of balance it out,” Miranda assessed.

Chennaiyin, however, will be boosted by the return of Portuguese centre-back Nuno Reis, who was sidelined in the last game and is expected to man the defensive line alongside P.C. Laldinpuia.

On the flip side, East Bengal has its own troubles at the back. Its defensive pillar Anwar Ali is expected to miss the tie after picking up an injury midweek during the 0-2 AFC Champions League Two loss against Omani side Al Seeb.

Chennaiyin FC’s Brison Fernandes and Pragadheeswaran (L) will look to make an impact as their side takes on East Bengal on Saturday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Head coach Antonio Habas, however, chose to see the bright side of things, stating that a player being unavailable means that “others get the chance to step up.” Sandip Mandi emerges as the natural choice to pair up with Croatian Diego Zivulic, who has played every minute in five of East Bengal’s six games across all competitions this season.

With the league breaking for the international break following the clash, both teams, who have had distinct campaigns so far, will be fighting their own battles. Juggling between domestic and Asian matches has left Habas with the strenuous task of managing his players’ welfare while also ensuring that the quality does not drop depending on the competition.

On the other hand, for Miranda and his men, a competent display is the need of the hour to lift Chennaiyin from the fag end of the table.