Preview: Kerala Blasters, Chennaiyin FC aim to get back in form

The upcoming contest has huge stakes in the race for the playoffs.

Kerala Blasters are set to host Chennaiyin FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Tuesday. Both teams are fighting to finish in the top six places with an aim to secure playoffs qualification for the ISL 2022-23 season.

The hosts are in a much stronger position to secure a playoff spot while the visitors must win their remaining fixtures and hope for positive results from other contests. These stipulations will certainly push both teams and make the game exciting to watch for the spectators.

Here is what to expect from the upcoming ISL match between Kerala Blasters and Chennaiyin FC on 7 February 2023:

The Stakes

Kerala Blasters

Kerala Blasters will take a huge step towards securing playoffs qualification with a win against Chennaiyin FC. The club has 28 points from 16 fixtures. However, their recent form has been underwhelming, to say the least. The Yellow Army has won only one of their last four matches and the fans are worried due to the poor form heading into the business end of the campaign.

Chennaiyin FC

Chennaiyin FC have only four more matches remaining in their ISL 2022-23 campaign. The two-time ISL winners must win all of them in order to make a strong claim for one of the six places that ensure a playoff berth. A defeat will likely see the Marina Machans miss out on the chance.

Injury & Team News

Kerala Blasters will likely miss the services of Prabhsukhan Gill. A late call regarding Marko Leskovic will be taken considering his road to a full recovery. Ivan Kaliuzhnyi is recovering from illness as well and may not start the game.

Chennaiyin FC have a fit squad as of now.

Head-to-Head

Kerala Blasters and Chennaiyin FC have faced each other 19 times in the ISL.

Kerala Blasters FC wins - 5

Chennaiyin FC wins - 6

Draws - 8

Predicted Line-ups

Kerala Blasters (4-4-2)

Karanjit Singh (GK); Harmanjot Khabra, Ruivah Hormipam, Victor Mongil, Jessel Carneiro; Bryce Miranda, Jeakson Singh, Adrian Luna, Rahul KP; Apostolos Giannou, Dimitrios Diamantakos.

Chennaiyin FC (4-2-3-1)

Samik Mitra (GK); Edwin Sydney Vanspaul, Fallou Diagne, Gurmukh Singh, Aakash Sangwan; Anirudh Thapa, Julius Duker; Ninthoi Meetei, Nasser El Khayati, Vincy Barretto; Petar Sliskovic.

Player to Watch

Adrian Luna (Kerala Blasters)

Adrian Luna is the biggest source of threat from Kerala Blasters. The attacking midfielder is dangerous considering his vision, playmaking and finishing qualities. He can single-handedly influence a game if the opposition allows him too much space. 

Adrian Luna created three scoring chances for his team in the previous fixture. The 30-year-old has three goals and five assists this season and will hope to add more in the forthcoming games.

Nasser El Khayati (Chennaiyin FC)

El Khayati is by far the most threatening attacker in Chennaiyin FC’s line-up. He scored in the last match against Odisha FC and came close to netting more. He has eight goals in nine appearances for the Marina Machans this season.

Nasser El Khayati is the joint top goal-scorer in the Chennaiyin FC squad and will be the obvious source of threat in the upcoming game. Kerala Blasters defenders must stay close to the midfielder who is clinical with his finishing, especially in pressure situations. 

Did You Know?

• Kerala Blasters have never won the Indian Super League but have featured in three finals.
• Chennaiyin FC have reached three ISL finals, winning two of them.
• KBFC boss Ivan Vukomanovic is a former head coach of Standard Liege in Belgium.

Telecast

The game will be telecasted live on the Star Sports Network. Disney+HotStar and JioTV will also stream the match. Kick-off is at 7:30 PM at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi.