Super League Kerala 2025: Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC vs Malappuram FC Preview, team news, lineups & prediction

Kombans will play their home game after a month-long break, following five consecutive away matches.

The Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC return to their home base, Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium, after five back-to-back away matches, for the final matchday of the Round 9 fixtures of Super League Kerala 2025. The third-placed Kombans will face Malappuram FC, who are just below them in the points table, on November 30, 2025.

With both teams desperate for a win to strengthen their chances of reaching the semi-finals, the stakes are high, making the crucial Super League Kerala clash between Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC and Malappuram FC an interesting do-or-die encounter.

The Stakes

Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC

The Kombans, after a rather sluggish start to the Super League Kerala, have come into full vigour and are currently placed in third position in the group table. With three wins and two draws in their eight matches, they have secured eleven points and are close to clinching their spot in the final four.

The current position of the Kombans ensures qualification to the playoffs, if they somehow drop points in their next two matches, and if Kannur manage to win their next game, it would mean curtains are down for the capital side.

Therefore, Kombans would be eying all three points, which would ensure their qualification to the knockouts, with 14 points.

If Kombans somehow lose their next two matches, they would have to hope that Kannur loses their next game, which in this unpredictable tournament can’t be guaranteed.

Hence, the capital side is expected to deploy their strongest eleven to bring out their best performance to make it into the Super League Kerala semi-finals for two consecutive times.

Malappuram FC

Malappuram FC made a great start in the first edition of the Super League Kerala. However, as the tournament progressed, they gradually lost their spark and had to finish 5th, missing out on a playoff spot.

In Super League Kerala 2025, they once again started strongly, remaining unbeaten midway through the season and topping the table after every round. But, as the tournament nears its end, the Malabar Giants are facing the same challenges they faced last year.

With just one win in their last seven matches, Malappuram FC are haggling in the fourth position, just above Kannur Warriors on a superior goal difference.

With points in parity with the Warriors, Mallapuram FC will have an uphill task to qualify for the semi-finals, as they must ensure that they do not lose in their remaining matches and hope to secure at least 4 points to avoid any last-minute threats from Kannur. Hence, Malappuram will look at it as a do-or-die contest and hope for the best result.

Team news

Malappuram FC will miss their 27-year-old winger, Gani Nigam, as the player will be serving his suspension for the red card he received in the Super League Kerala Northern Derby clash against Calicut FC. Apart from that, there are major injury concerns or suspensions for Malappuram FC.

The Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC are also expected to have no major absences ahead of their match, providing coach James McAloon with the autonomy to deploy his best eleven for the crucial encounter.

Player to watch out for

Thiruvananthapuram Kombans – Autemar Bispo

The 35-year-old Brazilian striker Autemar Bispo is the player to watch out for the Super League Kerala match between Forca Kochi and Kombans. With four goals so far in the tournament, Autemar is the top scorer for the Kombans and is third in the Golden Boot race of the league.

With his impressive ability to press, force errors from opponents, and craft chances for his team, Autemar shone in the first edition of the Super League Kerala, ending up as the joint second top scorer and was one of the foreign players who retained by the Kombans for the second season.

In the last season, Autemar also managed to score against Malappuram in both the home and away matches and is the leading goal scorer in this fixture.

This season, Autemar immediately proved his impact, scoring against Kannur Warriors in their season opener. Later, in their match against Malappuram FC, Autemar’s second-half goal helped the Kombans to settle for a stalemate and earn a crucial point.

In their reverse fixture against Kannur, Autemar scored two quick goals to break the Warriors’ unbeaten streak in the Super League Kerala 2025. If the striker could continue this style and score goals, he could make Kombans the third team to qualify for the semi-finals.

Malappuram FC – Aitor Aldalur

Aitor Aldalur is essentially the reliable anchor in the Malappuram FC defence. With over 17 years of experience in professional football for different Spanish clubs, the captain has strengthened Malappuram FC’s weak defence, which was a major concern for the Beacons in their first season.

With excellent presence of mind and game awareness, Aitor has a knack for dispossessing opponents with his physical dominance, making him a potent threat to opponents.

With his game awareness and smooth flicks, Aitor has scored three goals for Malappuram so far and is the second-highest goalscorer for his team in the tournament and is fourth in the Golden Boot race.

If Aitor can manage to find the back of the net and then ensure that the midfield is kept secure, resisting the Kombans from crafting their attacks, Malappuram could create wonders and qualify for the Super League Kerala playoffs for the first time.

Predicted Lineups

Thiruvananthapuram Kombans (4-3-3)

Satyajit (GK); Shanid Valan, Salam Ranjan Singh, Renan, Abdul Badish; Jasim, Patrick Mota, Ragav; Shah, Paulo Victor, Autemar Bispo.

Malappuram FC (4-3-3)

Jaseen (GK); Nithin Madhu, Abdul Hakku, Sanju, Jithin; Aitor, Badr, Irshad; John Kennedy, Roy Krishna, Abhijith PA.

When and where to watch the Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC vs Malappuram FC in Super League Kerala?

The Super League Kerala 2025 match between Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC and Malappuram FC will be played on November 30, 2025, and will be live broadcast on Sony Sports Network and the sports.com website. Fans can watch the Super League Kerala match from 7:30 pm onwards all across India.

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