Preview: Rampant Mumbai City take on hopeful Kerala Blasters

The Islanders will look to stretch their lead at the top of the table.

A promising fixture lies in store, as a high-flying Mumbai City side take on a hopeful Kerala Blasters. The Islanders are currently top of the table, with 15 points from six games. The Yellow Army, on the other hand, languish in the eighth position, with only six points from five matches.

The Stakes

Mumbai City FC

The title-defending Islanders are table leaders going and will look to further their impressive record with another victory. Des Buckingham’s free-scoring side have a whopping 17 goals to their name, as they demonstrated their ability to dismantle various kinds of teams in their 1-0 victory against Chennaiyin.

They will go for a successive clean-sheet with an aim to consolidate their place at the top of the table.

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Kerala Blasters

Kerala Blasters will be hungry for a win after they boasted 70% possession against SC East Bengal, but could only come away with a 1-1 draw.

Head coach Ivan Vukomanovic will want his team to go all out for their second win of the campaign and avoid yet another draw, as they try to move up from the eighth position they currently occupy. They will look to capitalize on Mumbai’s shakiness in transition and settle for nothing less than three points.

Team News

Left-back Vignesh Dakshinamurthy’s return is still doubtful after he was helped off in the first half of the opening match against FC Goa. Other than him, head coach Des Buckingham has the comfort of fielding his preferred starting XI from a fully fit roster.

IVukomanovic’s side will be without goalkeepers Muheet Shabir and Albino Gomes and right winger Rahul KP. Albino Gomes sustained a knee injury during the home match against Odisha FC and joins the rest of the injured players, as his return remains uncertain.

Head-to-Head

The two sides have come up against each other 14 times, in which the Tuskers have only been victorious twice. The Islanders lead the proceedings with six wins, as all six of the remaining matches have ended in draws. Last season, Mumbai City FC won the first meeting 2-0 and followed it with a 2-1 victory in their second fixture.

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Probable Lineups

Mumbai City (4-2-3-1): Nawaz (GK); Ranawade, Fall, Bheke, Mandar Rao Dessai; Lalengmawia, Jahouh; Raynier Fernandes, Cassinho, Bipin Singh; Angulo.

Kerala Blasters (3-5-2): P.S.Gill (GK); Sandeep, Leskovic, Sipovic, Jessel (C); Prasanth, Jeakson, Puitea, Sahal; Luna, A. Vazquez

Man To Watch

Cassinho (Mumbai City)

The Mumbai City debutant and silky skilled Brazilian has finally found his feet in the ISL after quite a few good displays. He registered his first goal and two assists for Mumbai City against Jamshedpur FC. Cassinho will look to cause problems for the Kerala Blasters come matchday.   

He has already proved his ability to decide the game against sides that field a conventional 4-4-2 or a modified 4-4-1-1. Cassio Gabriel frequently drops in between the midfield and defence to generate dangerous chances for his team. Similarly, he dribbled well in tight spaces against Hyderabad.

The following results were appropriate indicators of the magnitude of his influence and ability in this Mumbai City FC side. If he can maintain his innovative passing ideas, flawless ball control and convert his chances, Kerala Blasters would find it difficult to prevent the Islanders from scoring.      

Sahal Abdul Samad (Kerala Blasters)

The young Indian attacking midfielder has shown plenty of promise and has the talent to build on the same this season. He has registered one goal across five matches.

Samad is the more advanced of the two creative midfielders employed by Vukomanovic. Quick-footed Adrian Luna plays in the mold of a Trequartista, while Samad enjoys himself in an Enganche role, as he often gets into good goalscoring positions.

Mumbai have looked considerably weaker in midfield, especially during transitions. Samad can capitalize on this weakness with his quick pace and the deft finishing ability that he demonstrated against ATKMB.

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Did You Know?

• Kerala Blasters have the least number of wins this season (1), while Mumbai City have the most (5).
• Both of the teams have conceded seven goals this season, even though Kerala Blasters have played one game less and scored 11 goals less than the Islanders.
• Kerala Blasters have been on the receiving end of a red card on two occasions against Mumbai City. One of those games saw Mumbai inflict a 6-1 rout on them, while the other ended in a 1-1 draw.  

Telecast

The clash between Mumbai City FC and Kerala Blasters will take place on Sunday, December 19 and kick-off will be at 7:30 pm (IST). Star Sports Network will live telecast the game, while live streaming will be available on the Disney+Hotstar platform and the Jio TV app.

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