Mumbai City FC vs Kerala Blasters Preview, predicted lineup, injury news, H2H, telecast details | Durand Cup 2024

Two ISL clubs face off in the Durand Cup 2024

Mumbai City FC and Kerala Blasters are set to face each other for the first time in the 2024-25 season in their first match in the Durand Cup 2024 group stage. The two long-term ISL opponents are both intent on starting their new campaign on a high note by impressing in the Durand Cup and pushing to win some silverware before the domestic campaign begins.

With just one team guaranteed to make it out of Group C from the Durand Cup group stages, every game counts for both these teams. That is why they are likely to treat this group game like a knockout clash and push to get an early advantage over another in the competition.

The Stakes

Mumbai City  

The Islanders will be fielding their reserve squad for the Durand Cup as Petr Kratky works with the senior team in their pre-season training elsewhere. As they’re fielding a team full of youngsters, there won’t be that much internal pressure for Mumbai City to go all the way in the Durand Cup. But this also poses as the perfect chance for aspiring young players to prove their quality.

With Kratky always looking to promote young talent in his team, the local young guns selected for the Durand Cup will be determined to punch above their weights. A lot is at stake for the youngsters, as they’ll look to perform to their utmost potential and trouble many senior players to impress the head coach. While a loss won’t be the end of the world for this inexperienced team, a fighting draw or a shock win can turn a lot of eyes onto the young squad and prove that Mumbai City boasts one of the best reserve teams in the country.

Kerala Blasters

The Durand Cup is going to be the first major assignment for new Kerala Blasters head coach Mikael Stahre to present his footballing philosophy to the fans. With the Tuskers still yet to win a trophy in their decade-long existence, having reached three ISL finals in the past, Stahre’s major objective will be to help them break this trophy-less curse.

Stahre will look to line up his Kerala Blasters squad to play attractive attacking football from the get go in the Durand Cup. They get the perfect chance to do so against a young Mumbai City team. It’ll be the Tuskers’ first competitive match under Stahre and the gaffer will want his side to start on the front-foot by producing a dominant performance. A big win can definitely raise the level of optimism and excitement among the fans for the team under a new coach. But a draw or loss against this inexperienced Mumbai City FC can create an unnecessary bit of early pressure that Stahre wouldn’t want.

Charged Up and Ready ⚡️The boys getting into their groove ahead of their first group fixture of the #DurandCup2024#KBFC #KeralaBlasters pic.twitter.com/zZoInFqLMq

— Kerala Blasters FC (@KeralaBlasters) July 30, 2024

Injury & Team News

As noted earlier, Mumbai City FC won’t have a single member of the 2023-24 ISL winning team in their Durand Cup squad. Kerala Blasters, however, have named their senior squad for this.

Head-to-Head

This will mark the first time that Mumbai City and Kerala Blasters meet each other in the Durand Cup. But they’ve faced each other plenty of times in the ISL.

Total Matches – 20

Mumbai City win – 9

Kerala Blasters win – 5

Draw – 6

Predicted line-ups

Mumbai City predicted line-up (4-2-3-1)

Shaurya Sharma (GK); Parvej Shah, Nikhil Shinde, Arsh Bagwan, Tanush Pandey; Aadil Sheikh, Jamson Mutum; Kunal Raghav, Subhajit Belel, Mustafa Sheikh, Yash Bisht; Omkar Talkar

Kerala Blasters predicted line-up (4-2-3-1)

Som Kumar (GK); Sandeep Singh, Horimipam Ruivah, Milos Drincic, Muhammad Saheef; Vibin Mohanan, Danish Farooq; Adrian Luna, Rahul KP, Mohammed Aimen; Kwame Peprah

Players to Watch

Yash Bisht (Mumbai City)

Yash Bisht has been an impressive part of Mumbai City’s youth sides in recent years and also produced some attractive performances in the Reliance Football Development League for the Islanders. The former Sreenidi Deccan youth player is a vibrant, menacing winger who can seamlessly play on either winger.

Bisht has caught the eye with his impressive pace and ability to trouble defenders with his tricky movement in the final third. He has that creative touch in him, being able to set up chances with his crossing and final pass deliver yoo. Bisht will look to be at his most prolific nature against the experienced Kerala Blasters side. He’ll look to be a menacing figure with his pace and overall roaming, while also looking to be at his most clinical in the final third.

Kwame Peprah (Kerala Blasters)

After having a relatively mellow first season at Kerala Blasters in which he only scored two goals, Ghana striker Kwame Peprah is determined to earn his place in the starting XI this time around. He faces stiff competition from other foreigner forwards like Noah Sadaoui and Jaushua Sotorio, and the Durand Cup is the perfect platform for the 23-year-old to prove he deserves to stay in Stahre’s plans.

Peprah has performed pretty well for Kerala Blasters in pre-season matches so far, scoring in wins over Samut Prakan City and Ratchaburi FC in Thailand. Peprah has the ideal opportunity to show his goal-scoring instincts against this young Mumbai City side. He’ll look to torment the defenders by imposing his authority in the frontline, using his clever movement and finishing skills to give Kerala Blasters a big win to start the Durand Cup campaign and also impress the gaffer.

Did you know?

Kerala Blasters’ young goalkeeper Som Kumar spent the majority of his youth career in Europe, with his last side being Slovenian top division side Olimpija Ljubljana.

Mumbai City have defeated Kerala Blasters three times in their last four meetings in the ISL.

Mikael Stahre helped Swedish side AIK win three trophies (Allsvenskan, Sveska Cupen and Supercuper) in his 14-month stint with the club.

Telecast Details for Mumbai City vs Kerala Blasters

The Durand Cup 2024 game between Mumbai City and Kerala Blasters will take place at the Kishore Bharati Krinangan, Kolkata on August 1. The game will kick off at 7 PM IST. It will be shown live on Sony Ten 2 and will also be available for live streaming on Sony LIV.

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