Preview: Kerala Blasters FC and Odisha FC eye important win

 Kerala Blasters FC will comedy Odisha FC in the Indian Super Alliance (ISL) 2024-25 on Monday, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi, at 7:30 pm IST.

Kerala Blasters FC will aim to added their best home almanac adjoin the Kalinga Warriors, while Odisha FC will aim to end their three-game-long winless band in the competition. A win actuality will aftereffect in the Kalinga Warriors’ fourth beeline best bold adjoin the Kochi-based side, levelling their antecedent such amplitude from November 2019 to February 2021.

Kerala Blasters FC accept been solid at home, befitting a apple-pie breadth in their aftermost bold (3-0 vs Mohammedan SC). However, they haven’t recorded back-to-back home apple-pie bedding aback 2019. Meanwhile, the aftermost Odisha FC endured a best band after wins was in aboriginal 2023 (four games). They will appetite to affected their poor abroad anatomy to ascend college in the standings.

Odisha FC are seventh in the credibility table with 21 credibility from 15 matches, acceptable bristles clashes and cartoon six times. Kerala Blasters FC chase them in ninth place, accumulation 17 credibility from as abounding matches. Both teams are allusive to break in altercation for playoff spots, with the sixth-placed Mumbai City FC accepting alveolate 23 credibility from 14 games, authoritative this affray acute in the mid-season run.

Odisha FC are the third-highest goal-scoring aggregation in the alliance appropriately far, award the aback of the net 29 times, with Diego Mauricio’s seven strikes arch the charge. Kerala Blasters FC are sixth in this attention with 23 goals. Both these abandon accept kept alone three apple-pie bedding anniversary though, highlighting their arresting concerns.

Kerala Blasters FC’ credibility bottomward tendency

· Odisha FC Record: Kerala Blasters FC accept alone 15 credibility from acceptable positions adjoin Odisha FC in the ISL, their accomplished such account adjoin any distinct team. This indicates that the Kalinga Warriors accept rarely anytime been abject out of a challenge adjoin the Kochi-based side, behindhand of the scales angry in the latter’s favour briefly at times.

* Match-Winner: Noah Sadaoui has been active for the Kerala Blasters FC, accidental 10 goals (6 goals, 4 assists) and acceptable eight credibility for his side. Kerala Blasters FC are best in amateur breadth Sadaoui has denticulate this division (W4 D2), including their about-face accoutrement adjoin Odisha FC. Can he be the difference-maker, again?

Sergio Lobera’s ascendancy adjoin Kerala Blasters FC

* Kerala Blasters’ Struggles: Sergio Lobera has recorded nine wins in 12 matches adjoin Kerala Blasters FC in the ISL (D2 L1). Another achievement would accomplish him the aboriginal administrator in alliance history to defended 10 wins adjoin a distinct opponent. Will he administer to calibration this accomplishment in advanced of a accommodation Kochi army on Monday?

* Set-Piece Threat: Odisha FC accept netted 11 goals from set-pieces this season, the second-highest tally, while Kerala Blasters accept conceded 12 goals from set-pieces, the best by any team. This is an breadth the home aggregation charge abode to adverse Lobera’s appropriate advantage, powered by the attendance of Mourtada Fall who has addled the aback of the net four times this division – the second-most in the absolute Odisha FC unit.

Head-to-Head

The two teams accept played adjoin anniversary added 12 times in the ISL. Kerala Blasters FC and Odisha FC accept won four amateur each, admitting the blow of the matches accept produced draws. An boilerplate of 3.33 goals has been denticulate per bold in this fixture.

Coach’s Corner

“We accept to abstain all obstacles”

Kerala Blasters FC’s acting arch drillmaster T.G. Purushothaman asked his players to backpack out their affairs on the acreage cohesively.

“We accept to action as a team. We accept to be abundant added focused now and ensure that we abstain all obstacles affective forward,” he said.

“We cannot focus on one or two players”

Odisha FC arch drillmaster Sergio Lobera, too, requested his aggregation to put up a aggregate advanced to appointment Kerala Blasters FC in the advancing match.

“We cannot focus on one or two players. Its teamwork at the end of the day. We charge to assignment hard, columnist aerial to accumulate control and not acquiesce them to accept the brawl in our half,” he said.

Key Players & Milestones

* Diego Mauricio has been a arrow in Kerala Blasters FC’s side, scoring seven goals in this fixture, which is the best by any player. His 11 ambition contributions (7 goals, 4 assists) this division are joint-second (Armando Sadiku – 11) alone to Alaaeddine Ajaraie (19).

* Adrian Luna has bristles assists adjoin Odisha FC, his accomplished account adjoin any team. However, he hasn’t recorded a ambition addition in his aftermost two amateur adjoin the Kalinga Warriors.

* Kerala Blasters FC’s Jesus Jimenez and Noah Sadaoui forth with Odisha FC’s Ahmed Jahouh and Mourtada Fall accept accumulated for added goals (3 each) than any added brace in the ISL this season.

ISL Fantasy

Noah Sadaoui (₹11.3cr)

The Kerala Blasters FC amateur has becoming the best ISL fantasy credibility (80) in his aggregation in 2024-25

Mourtada Fall (₹6cr)

The Odisha FC brilliant has becoming the best ISL fantasy credibility (94) in his aggregation this season

The Indian Super Alliance will be streamed alive on JioCinema (English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam) and advertisement alive on Sports 18 – 3 (English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam), Asianet Plus (Malayalam). Additionally, baddest ISL matches will be advertisement alive on Sports 18 – 1, Sports 18 – 2, Sports 18 – Khel, and Brilliant Sports 3.