Kerala Blasters take on Chennaiyin FC in desperation for a win to keep pushing for the playoff places. They are just one point off Mumbai City on fourth who plays FC Goa in the other fixture. Chennaiyin have nothing to play for but will be aiming for a top-half finish at the end of the season.
KBFC vs CFC Match Details
When: Saturday, February 26
Time: 19:30 (IST)
Where: Tilak Maidan
KBFC vs CFC Match Preview
A must-win Southern Derby for Kerala Blasters as they continue to charge for the first four spots after falling off from challenging the League Winners Shield. The Covid outbreak cumulated in losing crucial points has ended their dreams. KBFC only managed to win to struggling sides, NorthEast United and SC East Bengal in their last seven games. They dropped points against fellow challengers, most recent against Hyderabad FC. Vincy Barretto only robbed the clean sheet for Nizams as Bartholomew Ogbeche and Javier Siverio scored to confirm defeat for the Blasters. But the playoffs look to be in the reach with just one point gap from the place and with three games in hand. With a win here and then doing the same against Mumbai next month will go on to ensure their place in the later rounds. It is left to see where the team is mentally placed after failing to get the necessary three points from the last two fixtures.
Chennaiyin FC have now failed to deliver for two seasons straight. After Bozidar Bandanovic's early-season promise got crushed and a defensive catastrophe against Goa led to his sack, the club appointed former player Sayed Sabir Pasha as interim boss. There wasn't a change in results after he stepped in because of a lack of games to set his identity even temporarily. Pasha can do the bare minimum here and continue to motivate his player to at least finish the season strong. With no wins in the last six games, things look difficult. It was proved by their 4-1 defeat to Jamshedpur in the last game. Also in that period, CFC have managed to score more than one goal only on two occasions while conceding 18. But derby is a derby. There is no prevention to play the game for one's pride and recapture form to have a positive outlook before the next season. Things won't be easier though because after Kerala they face another playoff candidate in ATKMB.
KBFC vs CFC Team News
Kerala Blasters coach Ivan Vukamanovic said that he won't risk Nishu Kumar and Jeakson Singh for the game if they don't feel good. The pair have returned to training after their injuries. Jorge Pereyra Diaz's suspension seems to be for one game so he will be back in the fold for this one.
Chennaiyin FC will miss Ariel Borysiuk through suspension after accumulating four yellow cards.
KBFC vs CFC Predicted Lineups
KBFC: Prabhsukan Gill, Harmanjot Khabra, Bijoy V, Marko Leskovic, Nishu Kumar, Vincy Barretto, Ayush Adhikari, Jeakson Singh, Sahal Samad, Alvaro Vazquez, Adrian Luna,
CFC: Debjit Majumder; Reagan Singh, Deepak Devrani, Slavko Damjanovic, Narayan Das, Raheem Ali, Vladimir Koman, Anirudh Thapa, Ninthoi, Mirlan Murzaev, Nerijus Valskis
KBFC vs CFC Head to Head
Kerala Blasters easily overcame Chennaiyin FC's challenge in the other fixture winning by 3-0. Diaz opened the scoring inside nine minutes before Sahal converted in chances seven minutes before the break. Adrian Luna hit the last nail to CFC's coffin in the second half.
KBFC vs CFC Dream11 Team Prediction :
GK: Gill (8.5)
DEF: Khabra (9), Leskovic (8.5), Das (8.5), Reagan Singh (9)
MID: Sahal (9), Thapa (9), Jeakson (9), Luna (9.5)
ATT: Murzaev (9.5), Vazquez (9.5)
