With 4 game weeks gone in the 2016 Dialog Champions League Super 8 stage, three teams are left with hopes of lifting the trophy.
ThePapare.com takes a look at the possible outcomes of the remaining games in an attempt to make sense of what needs to happen for each of these teams to walk away with the big prize.
Points Table, Fixtures & Results
Colombo FC, Renown SC and Blue Star SC all have their ambitions, but here is what they need to do.
Blue Star SC to win the DCL
Blue Star are currently on 8 points after 4 game and are in 3rd place and look like outsiders for the trophy at this point.
First up they will need to beat Solid SC, but then their two big games come along, first against fellow title contenders Colombo FC and then Army SC, who will be no pushovers. Unless they win all 3 of their games, their chances of winning are slim.
17 points look like the target they need to make, and they will still need other results going their way, if they are to win the league.
Goal difference may also become important if Renown win both their games going into game week 7, so they may need to target a big win over Solid to get their championship push going.
Key Fixture – Colombo FC (Game Week 6)
Blue Star SC did beat Colombo FC 1-0 in the group stages which will give them some confidence going into the game.
A win over Colombo FC will give them the necessary motivation and the required momentum to take on Army SC in the final game-week which will likely be their biggest challenge.
Renown SC to win the DCL
Renown are very well placed in second with 9 points and a goal difference of +6.
Their challenge will be to enter the final game-week on the back of 2 consecutive wins. If Colombo FC drops any points on the way to the finale, a draw in game-week 8 should be enough to see them to the title.
The important factor for Renown is that they do not play any of the title contenders till the final game-week. Air Force and Navy will provide them an opportunity to build some momentum going into the final match. They are still very much in control of their fate.
Key Fixture – Colombo FC (Game Week 7)
Renown SC has got the better off Colombo FC the last two times they’ve played against each other.
The first way back in the Super8 of the DCL 2015, where Renown ended Colombo FC’s 23 match unbeaten streak with a 2-1 win, and the next in the Colombo Football League President’s trophy final where both sides shared the trophy with a 1-1 draw.
They are equally matched in terms of quality and experience and it will be a difficult game to call. Much will depend on how the teams fare in the build up to the clash, but in all likelihood this WILL be the title deciding match.
Colombo FC to win the DCL
Colombo FC are top of the table with 10 points and GD of +5, and are very well placed to defend their DCL title.
They have 2 tough games to negotiate though, having to take on Blue Star and Renown in the final 2 game-weeks. They will need 7 points to seal the title and if they can go into their final game against Renown having picked up 6 of the 7 needed to win the DCL, they will have a big say in how the fixture unfolds.
Key Fixture – Blue Star SC (Game Week 6)
Colombo FC will not fancy having to pick up a win against Renown in the final game-week and to ensure that doesn’t happen they will need to beat Navy and Blue Star.
Blue Star will be a difficult match, especially if they are still in the mix for the title, and Colombo FC will need to be at their best if they are to pick up a big win.
One lesson they will need to have learnt from their group stage defeat to the Kalutara lads, will be to be more patient against a team that can defend deep and defend well for long periods of time.
Will the outsiders Blue Star walk away with the title? Or will Renown finally end their trophy drought? Or will Colombo FC retain their DCL title? Stay tuned to the Dialog Champions League coverage on ThePapare.com for all the latest news and updates.
