Churchill Brothers vs Punjab FC Preview - Team news, lineups | ISL 2026-27
Dermitzakis’ Shers eye extending unbeaten streak with win over Red Machines in Fatorda
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa, gears up to host the third game of the third matchweek of the Indian Super League 2026-27 season, where home team Churchill Brothers and former I League champions Punjab FC will meet in what is set to be a thrilling contest between the two teams.
The Red Machines are coming off a 4-0 defeat to East Bengal FC in their last game. They will play their third consecutive home game of the season. Dimitris Dimitriou will be keen to take Churchill back to winning ways after that humiliating defeat against the Red and Gold Brigade.
Punjab FC are placed third in the ISL table after a win and a draw so far in two games. Pavlos Dermitzakis has done well so far. They follow a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Mumbai City FC in their last game. This will be their first away game of the season, and the Shers will be keen to extend their unbeaten run.
Dimitrou will eye his second home win for the Red Machines, while Pavlos Dermitzakis will leave no stone unturned to leave Goa with all three points.
Who will emerge victorious? Will it be Dimitrou’s experience or Pavlos Dermitzakis’ tactics? We have to wait and find out.
The Stakes
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Churchill Brothers
Photo: Lester.R / FS Media Pro / ISL
The Red Machines have scored five goals in their last five games, and they haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last 17 games. They kicked off the new season with a 2-1 win over Manolo Marquez’s Mumbai City FC.
However, they succumbed to a 4-0 defeat against the reigning champions of India, East Bengal FC, after Bipin Singh scored a brace and goals from Ramirez and Lalrindika. Kadir has failed to keep a clean sheet so far, and it will be interesting to see if Anuj Kumar gets a chance between the sticks.
Wayde Lekay and John Okoli have yet to score so far, despite Vincy and Sebastian creating chances. Churchill’s attack has to be more lethal, and the strikers must find their form early before it’s too late.
Punjab FC
The Shers have been brilliant so far, and a win will take them to the top spot if the Highlanders do not win against Odisha. They kicked off the season with a 2-1 win over the Juggernauts after Raphael Messi Bouli scored the first and the last goal of the game in Delhi.
They were trailing 1-0 against the Islanders in the last game, but a late goal from Gurkirat saw Punjab clinch a hard-fought 1-1 draw, which makes them unbeaten so far in the competition.
After a brilliant performance, Gurkirat is expected to be named in the playing eleven. Uvais and Suhail have been brilliant from the left wing, whereas Messi Bouli has been in top-notch form.
Team News
Churchill Brothers do not have suspension or injury concerns for the next game.
Punjab FC are set to miss Laishram Meitei after he was injured and was forced to get subbed off in the 36th minute against the Islanders.
Head-to-Head
- Total Matches – 06
- Churchill Brothers wins – 03
- Punjab FC wins – 01
- Draws – 02
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
Punjab FC (4-2-3-1)
Arshdeep Singh (GK); K Lhungdim, Bijoy Varghese, Nikhil Prabhu, Md Uvais; Ricky Shabong, Bishu Sharma; Vishal Yadav, Diego Raposo, Md Suhail; Messi Bouli
Players to Watchout
Gaurav Bora (Churchill Brothers)
Bora etched his name into the history books after scoring the first-ever ISL goal in the history of Churchill Brothers. Against the Islanders, he came on as a substitute, but a brilliant outing saw him start against the Red and Gold Brigade, where the Red Machines conceded four goals.
Bora excels at anchoring a defence that builds up smoothly from the back, showing composure under pressure. He will be up against a strong Punjab offence led by Messi Bouli, Gurkirat and Diego Raposo.
Bora has an exceptional knack for rising above defensive lines during attacking corners and free-kicks, and he will definitely be a set-piece target for the Red Machines and will be keen to find his name in the scoresheet again, as he did against Islanders.
Muhammed Uvais (Punjab FC)
Uvais has been a standout performer for Punjab FC in both games against the Islanders and the Juggernauts. He gave the assist to Messi Bouli against Odisha FC, who scored the fastest goal of the season in just 39 seconds.
Unlike traditional full backs, Uvais operates as an inverted full back, who gives a numerical advantage to Punjab, and his early crosses and line-breaking assists make him a real threat from the flanks.
Uvais is also known for his long throws that act as an additional set-piece mechanism, allowing Punjab to bypass midfield presses and launch the ball directly into the opponent’s penalty area.
Telecast details
The match between Churchill Brothers and Punjab FC will take place on October 25, 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 Punjab FC in ISL 2026-27?
Churchill Brothers vs Punjab FC will take place on October 25, 2026, in the third match of the ISL 2026-27 third matchweek. The match is scheduled to kick off at 5:00 PM IST.
Where can fans watch Churchill Brothers vs Punjab 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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