ISL 2023-24: Hyderabad FC, Punjab FC eye campaign's maiden win

The bottom two clubs in the ISL table will desperately try to secure a victory.

Punjab FC welcome Hyderabad FC at the JLN Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday in their next Indian Super League (ISL 2023-24) fixture. Both clubs are going through a terrible phase and are yet to secure their first win of the campaign. The upcoming clash in the national capital region of the country will be looked at as an opportunity to secure three points and gather some momentum.

There are talented players in both camps which makes the upcoming contest exciting and unpredictable. Judging by the past performances of Punjab FC and Hyderabad FC, one can expect a lot of aggression and drive from both sides as desperation sets in to win.

Here is what to expect from the Punjab FC vsHyderabad FC clash in the ISL 2023-24:

The Stakes

Punjab FC

Punjab FC are staring at an uncertain future after failing to win any of their opening six games. Their previous outing in the ISL against Mumbai City FC resulted in a demoralising 2-1 defeat away from home. The Shers led the game for a long period but two quickfire goals by the Islanders dashed the hopes of a first win for the newly-promoted club.

Hyderabad FC

Hyderabad FC’s life without Manolo Marquez and some key players is off to a terrible start. While their former head coach has guided FC Goa to the top of the league table, the Nizams are struggling at the second last place and still searching for their first victory of the 2023-24 campaign. Therefore, the HFC fans expect the side to beat PFC and begin their climb upward. 

Injury & Team News

Dimitrios Chatziisaias is suspended after seeing a red card in the last game for Punjab FC. Laxmikant Kattimani continues to be unavailable for Hyderabad FC due to a long-term injury.

Head to Head

Total Matches Played - 0

Punjab FC wins - 0

Hyderabad FC wins - 0

Draws - 0

Predicted Line-ups

Punjab FC (4-2-3-1)

Ravi Kumar (GK), Khaiminthang Lhungdim, Nongmeikapam Meitei, Mashoor Shereef, Nitesh Darjee, Ashish Pradhan, Nikhil Prabhu, Madih Talal, Juan Mera, Brandon Vanlalremdika, Luka Majcen

Hyderabad FC (4-2-3-1)

Gurmeet Singh (GK), Nikhil Poojary, Chinglensana Singh, Oswaldo Alanis, Vignesh Dakshinamurthy, Sahil Tavora, Joao Victor, Abdul Rabeeh, Mohammad Yasir, Joe Knowles, Jonathan Maya

Players to Watch

Luka Majcen (Punjab FC)

Luka Majcen is the biggest attacking threat in the Punjab FC line-up. The skipper scored with exquisite ease against Mumbai City FC and deserved to see his team secure at least a point from the game. The target-man works hard but needs to receive proper service from his teammates to influence the game. If PFC midfielders feed Majcen with scoring chances, he will certainly produce more goals.

Mohammad Yasir (Hyderabad FC)

Mohammad Yasir is outrightly the most prolific Indian attacker in Hyderabad FC’s line-up. The winger can also play as a No.10 due to his versatility and technical quality. He scored a beautiful goal against Bengaluru FC in the previous game, showing penetrative movement, exquisite control and precise finishing. Clearly, if HFC are to succeed, then Yasir must lead by example.

Did You Know?

• This will be the first-ever meeting between Punjab FC and Hyderabad FC
• Khaiminthang Lhungdim has made 18 tackles, the second most in the ISL yet.
• Punjab FC have received two red cards in each of their last two matches.

Telecast

The kick-off for the Punjab FC vs Hyderabad FC game is at 8:00 PM IST on 7 November 2023. The match will be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. The broadcast and live streaming of the game will be available on the Sports18 Network (Sports18 1 Channel/VH1 Channel) and JioCinema app, respectively. Viewers from abroad can watch the game on OneFootball.