Both sides finished the regular season in good form, although ATK Mohun Bagan must bounce back from the disappointment of losing last weekend’s Winners Plate decider.
There was nothing to split the two sides with one win each in the two meetings this season. A draw is predicted in the first leg of the semi-final between two evenly matched sides.
NorthEast United ended the season with a 10-game running run that saw them power into the finals picture and finish third. They reached the playoffs after a final game victory over Kerala Blasters. VP Suhair and Apuia scored in a 2-0 win. Khalid Jamil’s side won six of their final nine games after a sticky middle part of the season that saw Gerard Nus sacked.
The Highlanders recorded wins over Jamshedpur, ATK Mohun Bagan, Mumbai City, Odisha, East Bengal and Kerala Blasters.
They also drew with Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Goa and Chennaiyin during an unbeaten run back to early January.
Playmaker Federico Gallego could make his first start after injury following two appearances from the bench. Right-back Ashutosh Mehta missed the last two games of the season through injury, but should return. Left-back Provat Lakra was replaced early in the win over Kerala Blasters and is a doubt. Defender Wayne Vaz is ruled out for the season.
ATK Mohun Bagan lost their Winners Shield decider last Sunday as Mumbai City’s 2-0 victory saw them snatch top spot. It was heartbreak for Antonio Lopez Habas’ side, who waved goodbye to the AFC Champions League that goes with finishing top in the regular season.ATK, who will instead play in the AFC Cup, picked up just a single point from their last two games having looked certainties to enter the finals as top seeds.The reigning ISL champions needed a 93rd minute equaliser from Pritam Kotal to draw 2-2 with Hyderabad. Mohun Bagan were unable to break down a resolute Mumbai City defence in the Judgement Day decider.
ATK Mohun Bagan hold a 7-3 head to head advantage over NorthEast United with two draws.
ATK won three in a row without conceding thanks to 1-0 and 3-0 wins last season and a 2-0 victory in the first meeting this season.
NorthEast United ended that run with a 2-1 victory in the most recent fixture between the sides in January.
Prediction: Total goals scored will be Over 0.5