Preview: Kerala Blasters battle Hyderabad FC with top-four spot at stake

None of the league stage games between these sides have ended in a draw.

Kerala Blasters will look to finish the league season on a high with a home fixture against Hyderabad FC on Sunday. While Hyderabad have booked a direct semi-final spot with a second-place finish, Kerala Blasters currently sit in fifth place.

Ivan Vukomanovic’s men are level on points with the Mariners just above, with the Kolkata derby yet to take place. Here is the detailed preview for the Kerala Blasters vs Hyderabad FC game.

The Stakes

Kerala Blasters

As they have an inferior head-to-head record when compared to ATK Mohun Bagan, Blasters will need a win and hope for East Bengal to get a positive result in the derby to secure a top-four place and get a chance to play the eliminator at home. They enter the fixture with back-to-back defeats and will hope to end the winless run and gain confidence.

Hyderabad FC

Although having qualified for the final-four already, Hyderabad will field their main squad since they want to end the league stage on a high. They have conceded the least goals this season, a record they will look to keep a hold of.

Injury & Team News

Rahul KP is suspended for picking up a red card. Marko Leskovic is back from injury. Hyderabad FC have a fit squad going into the clash, apart from Laxmikant Kattimani who's out for the season.

Head-to-Head

Kerala Blasters and Hyderabad FC have faced each other eight times in the ISL.

Kerala Blasters – 4

Hyderabad FC – 4

Drawn – 0

Predicted Line-ups

Kerala Blasters (4-4-2)

Prabhsukhan Gill (GK); Nishu Kumar, Hormipam Ruivah, Marko Leskovic, Jessel Carneiro; Saurav Mandal, Jeakson Singh, Ivan Kaliuzhnyi, Bryce Miranda; Dimitrios Diamantakos, Apostolos Giannou

Hyderabad FC (4-2-3-1)

Gurmeet Singh (GK); Nim Dorjee, Chinglensana Singh, Odei Onaindia, Akash Mishra; Sahil Tavora, Borja Herrera; Mohammad Yasir, Bartholomew Ogbeche, Rohit Danu; Javier Siverio

Player to Watch

Marko Leskovic (Kerala Blasters)

The centre-back was out of action with a muscle strain, but has been a colossal presence in the heart of the Kerala Blasters defence with his physicality. He is not afraid to put his body on the line and is a good long-passer from deep. Leskovic’s return will be a huge shot in the arm for the Blasters heading into the playoffs. The think-tank will want him to get back at his best before the eliminator.

Borja Herrera (Hyderabad FC)

The versatile midfielder has been a mainstay off late for Hyderabad FC, posting three goals and five assists so far this season. He has two assists in the last two matches and is always on the look-out to thread through-balls into the box. He has linked well with Bartholomew Ogbeche and constantly dominated the touches and passes completed figures.

Did you Know?

• Borja Herrera used to play for La Liga side Las Palmas
• Bartholomew Ogbeche scored 15 goals from 15 games for Kerala Blasters in the 2019-20 season and remains their top-scorer till date.
• Both the teams faced off in the 2021-22 ISL final, Hyderabad FC winning 3-1 on penalties.

Telecast

The Kerala Blasters vs Hyderabad FC game will be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi, on February 26th, 2023 (Sunday). Kick-off is scheduled at 7:30 PM IST. The match will be telecasted live on the Star Sports Network. Disney+HotStar and JioTV will live-stream the game.