Churchill Brothers vs NorthEast United FC Preview - Team news, lineups | ISL 2026-27
Red Machines eye to get back to winning ways with a win over unbeaten Highlanders in Fatorda.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa, gears up to host the Indian Super League 2026-27 season fixture where home team Churchill Brothers and Durand Cup champions North East United FC will meet in what is set to be a thrilling contest between the two teams.
After a winning start to their debut season, the Red Machines faced consecutive defeats in the last two games to East Bengal FC and Punjab FC.
As Churchill prepares to host the Highlanders, it will be interesting to see if Dimitris Dimitriou will make changes to his preferred lineups and tactics.
The Highlanders are one of the very few unbeaten teams in the tournament so far. After wins over Mohun Bagan and Kerala Blasters, Pedro Benali’s side had to settle for two consecutive draws against Bengaluru FC and Odisha FC in the last two games.
Dimitrou’s Churchill will leave no stone unturned to get back to winning ways and give the home fans some reason to cheer.
The Highlanders, who have been unbeaten so far, will eye all three points to move atop the points table.
The Stakes
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Churchill Brothers
Not a single clean sheet so far in the first three games for the debutants. Churchill Brothers find themselves ninth in the points table with just a solitary win in three games. After a 4-0 defeat to the reigning champions of India, Churchill Brothers went on to succumb to a 3-2 defeat against Punjab FC in the last game.
The game was heading for a 2-2 draw, but Konsam Sanathoi Singh scored the winner in the dying minutes to win it all for the Shers. The defeat had put Churchill below so many teams in the points table as they languished in the lower echelon.
Colombian midfielder Sebastian Gutierrez has been the silver lining in the cloud for the Red Machines, who have been in red-hot form after scoring 3 goals in 3 games, including a brace in the last game.
North East United FC
The Highlanders were just a few seconds away from sealing all three points at home against Bengaluru FC until a late goal from Venkatesh saw the home team settle for a 1-1 draw.
Defensively, the Highlanders have been one of the best teams in the competition, conceding just two goals in four games and keeping clean sheets against Mohun Bagan and Odisha FC.
A win will take Juan Pedro Benali’s side to the top of the table, leapfrogging the Mariners. The challenge ahead for Highlanders, away from home, will not be an easy one, as Churchill Brothers will have the home advantage, and they are hungry to get back to winning ways.
Team News
The Churchill Brothers do not have suspension or injury concerns for the next game. Okoro and Vincy Barretto are also expected to be fit, as they were most likely subbed off due to tactical reasons in the last game.
Macarton Louis Nickson and Jithin MS suffered injuries during North East United FC’s latest ISL match against Bengaluru FC and will most likely be unavailable.
Head-to-Head
- Total Matches – 01
- Churchill Brothers wins – 00
- North East United FC wins – 01
- Draws – 00
Predicted Lineups
Churchill Brothers (4-2-3-1)
Sayad Kadir (GK); Anil Gaonkar, Melroy Assisi, Gaurav Bora, Maibam Singh; Dramane Salou, A Luwang; Vincy Barretto, Sebastian Gutierrez, Wayde Lekay; John Okoli
North East United FC (4-2-3-1)
Gurmeet Singh (GK); Nikhil Barla, Eneko Satrustegui, Pramveer, Abdul Rabeeh; Mayakkannan, Moyano; Parthib Gogoi, R. Tlang, Gonzalez; Ajaraie
Players to Watch Out For
Wayde Lekay (Churchill Brothers)
The South African striker is yet to score a goal for the Red Machines so far in the new season. The 29-year-old was previously part of Churchill’s I League-winning team in the 2024-25 season. Standing at 6 feet 2 inches, Lekay provides massive aerial superiority to break North East’s low block.
Lekay will be up against one of the tightest defensive forces in the tournament. He also offers that positional flexibility to Dimitriou, as he can be deployed both as a winger and as a striker offensively.
It will be interesting to see how Dimitriou makes full use of his strengths and gets the better of the Highlanders. His combination play with Gutierrez will be a delight to watch, as the Colombian has already scored three goals in the tournament.
Abdul Rabeeh (North East United FC)
The full back was one of the best performers for North East United FC in the previous game against Bengaluru FC. The former FC Goafull-back has logged over 350 minutes for the Highlanders and established himself as a constant starter in the eleven.
He will be up against Vincy Barretto on the flanks, and it is never easy to match his elite overlapping speed from the flanks. But in the last game, Rabeeh not only kept Soham quiet but also had the most defensive contribution in the game.
Telecast details
The match between the Churchill Brothers and North East United FC will take place on November 5, 2026, at the Fatorda Stadium, Goa, at 5:00 PM IST.
The match will be shown live on Sony Ten 2 and Sony Ten 2 HD and will be available to stream digitally for free on YouTube.
When are Churchill Brothers facing North East United FC in ISL 2026-27?
Churchill Brothers vs Punjab FC will take place on November 5, 2026. The match is scheduled to kick off at 5:00 PM IST.
Where can fans watch Churchill Brothers vs North East United FC live?
The match will be broadcast live on Sony Ten 2 and Sony Ten 2 HD, with free digital streaming available on YouTube.
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