Guwahati will witness the last piece of ISL action for 2018 as NorthEast United take on visitors ATK at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium on Saturday evening. This will be the last home game for the Highlanders as the league will draw a temporary close in about a week's time and resume again next year, keeping in view India's international commitments for the Asian Cup 2019.
United are upbeat about their great ever start to an ISL season and sits pretty in the Top 4 with 19 points from 10 outings. Come Saturday, they would want to sign off at home in style. Although fatigue issues seem to have cropped up among the regular players in the starting XI, but coach Eelco Schattorie wouldn't want his side to play second fiddle at all. In the reverse fixture, NorthEast outplayed ATK at Kolkata by 1-0 to begin their away campaign in style.
ATK on the other hand, seem to have found their much needed revival mode on. After two consecutive defeats in the two opening games, Steve Coppell's side have managed to turn things in their favour since then with occasional hiccups. The Bengal side would be eyeing their place in the Top 4 sooner than later as they stand a couple of points adrift FC Goa in the 4th spot.
-By Manas P. Kashyap
