Kerala Blasters vs Mumbai City FC lineups, team news, prediction & preview

The Tuskers are playing for pride against the defending champions in matchweek 25.

Indian Super League (ISL) club Kerala Blasters FC will be looking to end their regular season campaign with a pair of wins when they welcome Mumbai City FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. With Manjappada looking forward to their last two ISL games, TG Purushothaman’s men will be keen to have a positive end to their season.

The reverse fixture saw Mumbai secure an emphatic 4-2 win over the Tuskers and the home side will be keen to get some revenge of their own. The visitors need only one more point to secure ISL playoff qualification in their two final games of the season.

The Stakes

Kerala Blasters FC

While the club has been eliminated from playoff contention, the Blasters will be looking to secure a top-eight finish. With 25 points from 22 games, the Blasters have had an underwhelming season and will be looking to finish with a flourish.

With three losses in their last five games, the Blasters’ worst fears came true this season. As the regular season is winding down, TG Purushothaman’s men will be keen to leave their adoring fans with something to cheer in their final home game.

Mumbai City FC

The Islanders have a golden opportunity to secure playoff qualification when they face the Blasters before matchweek 26. While Mumbai has only managed to win one of their last five games, the Islanders only need one point from their remaining games for a playoff berth.

With 33 points from 22 league games, a win/draw could help the club leapfrog Odisha FC to the sixth spot and knock them out of playoff competition. A loss against the Blasters will add unnecessary pressure on the defending champions, who will then have to avoid defeat against Bengaluru FC.

ALSO READ: Oscar Bruzon sees the positives despite East Bengal FC’s loss to FK Arkadag in AFC Challenge League

Injury and Team News

The Tuskers forward Noah Sadaoui will be a game-time decision for TG Purushothaman’s side.

The Islanders will be missing forward Ayush Chikkara and full-back Akash Mishra, who were ruled out for the season after suffering a knee injury and a cruciate ligament tear injury respectively.

Head-to-Head Record

Games Played: 21

Kerala Blasters FC wins: 5

Mumbai City FC wins: 10

Draws: 6

Predicted Lineups

Kerala Blasters FC (4-4-2)

Kamaljit Singh (GK); Naocha Singh, Alexandre Coeff, Dusan Lagator, Aibanbha Dohling; Danish Farooq, Vibin Mohanan, Lalthanmawia Renthlei, Adrian Luna; Korou Singh, Jesus Jimenez

Mumbai City FC (4-2-3-1)

TP Rehenesh (GK), Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Mehtab Singh, Tiri, Nathan Rodrigues, Yoell van Nieff, Jayesh Rane, Brandon Fernandes, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Bipin Singh, Jorge Ortiz

Players to Watch

Jesus Jimenez (Kerala Blasters)

Jesus Jimenez will once again be a crucial presence in the box for Kerala Blasters. The forward has consistently found the net for his side, having scored 11 goals and one assist. While the playoff dream might have come to an end, Jimenez will lead the attack in this decisive game against Jamshedpur.

The 31-year-old Spaniard has scored two goals in the last six games in the league. He will possibly be the biggest goal threat against the Islanders and a headache for coach Petr Kratky.

Lallianzuala Chhangte – Mumbai City FC

The Mizo Flash will again will be the main goal-threat for the Islanders this season. Chhangte, known for his electrifying pace, has consistently led the attack for his side and supplied the goals when it mattered most.

His contributions this season highlight his importance to the side with five goals and three assists this season. Chhangte’s leadership on and off the field will be crucial to Mumbai City FC’s success against Kerala, making him one of the most valuable assets for Petr Kratky’s side.

Did You Know?

• Mumbai City FC have lost none of their last eight away games this season.
• When Kerala Blasters FC leads 1-0 at home, they win 50 per cent of their games.
• When Mumbai City FC leads 0-1 away from home, they win 83 per cent of their games.
• Mumbai City has lost just one of their last five ISL meetings against Kerala Blasters FC.

Telecast

The Kerala Blasters FC vs Mumbai City FC match will be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday (7th March 2025). The game will kick off at 07:30 PM IST.

The match will be shown live on the Sports 18 network and Star Sports 3. It will also be streamed online on Jio Hotstar. International viewers can also watch the game on One Football App.

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