FC Pune City will have to do without the presence of talismanic coach Antonio Habas in the dug-out for the Maharashtra Derby against Mumbai City FC at Balewadi Stadium in Pune on Monday.
Habas was sent off by the Match Referee last season during the second-leg of the semi-final against Chennaiyin FC. He was later banned for four games by the Disciplinary Committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for aggressive behaviour. Since ATK lost that match, it was the end of their campaign last year, however Habas carries the Disciplinary Committee suspension for this season and will be missing from FC Pune City dug out for first four matches.
The absence of the Spanish coach could unnerve Pune City at the start but with assistant coach Miguel holding charge and experienced players on the field, the hosts should be able to measure up to their opening match challenge.
Also missing will be former Barcelona and Chelsea FC midfielder Eidur Gudjohnsen who injured himself and is now ruled out of the league. It will be too early for his replacement, Mohamed Sissoko, the former liverpool and Juventus midfielder, to make his debut on Monday.
At least on paper, Mumbai City FC can match any of their rivals. For two successive seasons, Mumbai City have put together strong squads but are yet to deliver, finishing seventh and sixth in the first two seasons.
With Costa Rican coach Alexandre Guimaraes arriving here with a reputation of having guided Costa Rica to two World Cups, they need not worry about strategies but the absence of four Bengaluru FC players, including captain Sunil Chhetri, could leave Guimaraes with little options.
Most eyes however will be on Mumbai marquee Diego Forlan. The Uruguayan finished as the joint top-scorer at the World Cup in 2010.