Two ISL sides, Kerala Blasters and Punjab FC clash against each other in the deciding match of Group C in the Durand Cup 2024.
KBFC vs PUN Match Details
Date: Sunday, 4 August 2024
Time: 16:00 (IST)
Venue: Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata
KBFC vs PUN Match Preview
Despite a strong start, an injury-ravaged Kerala Blasters only managed an eliminator spot in the ISL last season cutting ties with their most successful manager Ivan Vukomanovic. Hoping to end their trophy drought finally, the club has made some notable changes this summer including the selection of a new manager Mikel Stahre and signings like ISL star Noah Sadaoui from FC Goa. The Moroccan wasted little time in settling with his new club by bagging a hattrick in the 8-0 demolition of Mumbai City reserves in Blasters’ opening match in Durand Cup 2024. Kwame Pephrah also claimed a hattrick in the win while Ishan Pandita secured a late brace. Stahre’s side will hope to be more serious even in a competition that acts like a pre-season to the ISL and aiming for the silverware will certainly boost their confidence of achieving something in the new campaign. The emphatic start should give an air of optimism before facing Punjab FC, who has fielded their senior squad as them, in their second Group C game at Salt Lake.
Punjab FC also had a dominating start in the Durand Cup 2024 beating CISF Protectors 3-0 with Luka Majcen scoring a brace and Vinit Rai converting a late penalty. The Shers had a memorable debut in the ISL last season, missing the playoffs by a whisker. The team parted ways with their manager Staikos Vergetis but the appointment of an experienced Panagiotis Dilmperis brings a lot of promise. Punjab FC has also shown much more promise in the transfer market capturing top Indian talents like Nihal Sudeesh from Kerala Blasters, Ninthoi Meetei from Chennnaiyin FC, Vinit Rai from Mumbai City and Princeton Rebello from Odisha FC. They have also re-signed star striker Luka Majcen. Dilmperis’s team will want to give a positive outlook ahead of the ISL next month and beating Kerala Blasters for the first time will be a statement.
KBFC vs PUN Predicted Lineups
Kerala Blasters
Sachin Suresh; Pritam Kotal, Milos Drincic, Ruivah Hormipam, Aibanbha Dohling; Adrian Luna, Mohammed Azhar, Danish Farooq, Noah Sadaoui; Kwame Pephrah, Ishan Pandita
Punjab FC
Ravi Kumar; Khaiminthang Lhungdim, Suresh Meetei, Melroy Assisi, Nitesh Darjee; Filip Mrzljak, Vinit Rai; Leon Augustine, Ashis Pradhan, Princeton Rebello; Luka Majcen
KBFC vs PUN Dream11 Match Prediction
Kerala Blasters’s firepower will be enough to get past Punjab FC’s challenge. We predict a 3-1 win for the Tuskers.
KBFC vs PUN Dream11 Top picks
Captain Pick: Noah Sadaoui
Vice-captain Picks: Adrian Luna, Luka Majcen
KBFC vs PUN Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Ravi (Cr - 7)
DEF: Assisi (Cr - 8), Drincic (Cr - 9), Dohling (Cr - 7)
MID: Luna (Cr - 9), Augustine (Cr - 8), Vinit (Cr - 8.5), Sadaoui (Cr - 8.5)
FW: Majcen (Cr - 9), Pandita (Cr - 8), Peprah (Cr - 8.5)
Vice-captain: Adrian Luna
Captain: Noah Sadaoui
