East Bengal are looking for back-to-back wins in the ISL to put them into the playoff contention when they welcome Punjab FC at Salt Lake.
Here in this article we bring you the East Bengal FC vs Punjab FC (EBFC vs PFC) dream11 prediction, match preview, head to head and predicted lineups for the ISL 2023/24 match.
EBFC vs PFC Match Details
Date: Saturday, 9 December 2023
Time: 20:00 (IST)
Venue: Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata
EBFC vs PFC Match Details
East Bengal set the mode of turning back their season in thumping fashion by defeating NorthEast United 5-0 in front of their home support. Borja Herrera scored an audacious opener on his return from injury with braces from Cleiton Silva and substitute Nadha Kumar giving the Red and Golds their biggest victory in the ISL. Also their second victory of the season, Carles Cuadrat’s men pulled themselves to eight on the standings with just a point away from the Highlanders in the last playoff spot. Moreover, the manner of the victory brings motivation to the squad to put together a run of positive result having suffered a rough patch of form earlier. East Bengal will also need three points against Punjab FC in the fifth home game of the seven played to be confident of facing two top-end sides in Mumbai City and Odisha FC before the end of the year. The meeting between the two earlier this year also ended in a 1-0 win for the Torch Bearers in the group stages of the Durand Cup.
For the third game running, the I-league winners Punjab FC took the lead in the match but failed to hold on it to drop points in the ISL again. The Shers went ahead three times in the 3-3 draw away at Bengaluru FC through Nikhil Prabhu, Dimitrios Chatziisaias and Luka Majcen under the half-hour mark. Yet, the promoted team still could not prevent the opposition from rattling the net and kept them searching for their first win of the season. The defence and the lack of experience at this stage remain the worry for head coach Staikos Vergetis. However, he feels Punjab FC is getting somewhere with their attack failing to score only twice this season. Sitting in 11th with only four points gathered does not show a good picture anyway. Their next trip to face East Bengal at Salt Lake also does not look promising as they have won only once in five encounters before the first ISL meet. That win came five years ago in 2018 when both used to play in the I-league.
EBFC vs PFC Team News
Harmanjot Khabra was stretched off before the half-hour mark with a knee injury. The club announced that they are monitoring his situation closely with the extent of his absence unknown. Mohammad Rakip replaced him at right-back in the last match and will continue in the position from the start on Saturday. Nadha Kumar could also come back in the starting eleven after making a remarkable impact off the bench.
For Punjab FC, centre-back Melroy Assisi will return from his three-match suspension after his straight red in the defeat to Chennaiyin FC two months ago. The 24-year-old will be in the battle to feature at the back again with Suresh Meitei partnering with Dimitrios Chatziisaias in his absence. There are no other injury concerns in the squad.
EBFC vs PFC Predicted Lineups
EBFC: Prabhsukhan Gill; Mohammad Rakip, Lalchungnunga, Hijazi Maher, Mandar Rao Dessai; Naorem Mahesh, Souvik Chakrabarti, Saul Crespo, Borja Herrera, Nandha Kumar; Cleiton Silva
PFC: Ravi Kumar; Khaiminthang Lhungdim, Suresh Meitei, Dimitrios Chatziisaias, Nitesh Darjee; Ashish Pradhan, Nikhil Prabhu; Juan Mera, Medih Talal, Krishnananda Singh; Luka Majcen
EBFC vs PFC Head to Head (all competitions)
Played - 9
BFC won - 5
Drawn - 3
PFC won - 1
EBFC vs PFC Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Ravi (8)
DEF: Lhungdim (8.5), Prabhu (8.5), Dessai (8)
MID: Nadha (8.5), Crespo (9), B Herrera (8.5), K Singh (8)
FW: Mahesh (8.5), C Silva (9), Mera (9)
Vice-captain choices: Nandha Kumar or Mahesh Singh
Captain: Cleiton Silva
Mahesh Singh has contributed to four goals this season (2 goals, 2 assists) while Nandha Kumar has five (2 goals, 3 assists).
Cleiton Silva has equalled Pereyra Diaz of Mumbai City at the top of the scoring chart with five goals. So far, he has found the net in all but one game at the Salt Lake.
Stay tuned to Fantasy Football for upcoming ISL matches.
