Malappuram FC vs Calicut FC Preview, team news, lineups & prediction | Super League Kerala 2025

Malappuram will host Calicut on the 19th of October

The time has arrived for the Northern Derby of the Super League Kerala as Malappuram FC lock horns against Calicut FC at the Payyanad Stadium, Manjeri, for the second match of the round three fixtures on the 19th of October.

Neither team have had a favourable result in their round two matches, with Malappuram settling for the first goalless draw of this season against Kannur Warriors FC and Calicut FC facing a shocking 1-0 defeat against Thrissur Magic FC at their fortress, the EMS Corporation Stadium, following the 36th minute goal from Mailson Alves.

The Defending Champions will be looking forward to restarting their winning momentum at the Payyanad Stadium and silencing the home crowd, but ahead of them are the mighty Malappuram FC, who held the table toppers Kannur Warriors to a stalemate.

The Stakes

Malappuram FC

For Malappuram, the stakes are multiple. Their primary objective will be to prove their consistent progress and silence the visitors in front of the Malappuram FC fans. A win for Malappuram would not only mean three points, rather it would also solidify and cement them a top-half spot in the group table, significantly reducing their headache of being stuck in the mid-table, which cost them badly last season.

A positive result is a must for the hosts to continue their unbeaten streak, which would provide them with a huge psychological advantage in the matches ahead. Finally, a win would mark their first-ever victory against Calicut in the Super League Kerala, which would shift the regional dominance from Calicut to Malappuram.

Calicut FC

For Calicut, the Malabar Derby is a crucial moment to re-establish their authority and maintain their winning tradition against Malappuram FC in their rivalry. Following a loss against Thrissur Magic FC at home in the second round fixtures, Calicut needs a strong performance to bounce back from a recent defeat and prevent an immediate slide down the league table, with just three points in hand.

A win is also essential for the Beeacons to preserve their perfect two-nil head-to-head record against the host in the Super League Kerala history and to reiterate their position as the favourites in the league. A positive result will take Calicut to the top two and provide an upper edge against their potential playoff competitor later in the tournament.

Team News

As of now, there are no major injury concerns or suspensions for both Malappuram FC and Calicut FC, providing Miguel Corral and Ever Demalde with the autonomy to deploy their best roster for the Super League Kerala Northern Derby.

Players to Watch Out for

Malappuram FC – Muhammed Azhar

The performance of the former Kerala Police goalkeeper, Muhammed Azhar, will be pivotal for Malappuram to resist the consistent attacks of Calicut FC in the derby match. In the Round Two fixture against the Warriors, Azhar stole the show with his brilliant reflex to deny all the attempts made by Kannur to breach the Malappuram net.

When Kannur started to attack aggressively, through set-pieces and long-range attempts, the keeper kept his composure and was worth all the pennies spent as he ensured that no ball went past him. Azhar’s alertness and presence of mind earned him the Man of the Match title and helped Malappuram earn a hard-fought other point and eliminate the nightmare of a trashing defeat at home.

Calicut FC – Prashant K

After a glittery career, playing for multiple ISL and I-League clubs, the veteran Indian right winger has now joined forces with his hometown club Calicut FC in the Super League Kerala 2025, where he has already made a notable impact for the club in his two appearances.

In the season opener against Forca Kochi, the performance of Prashant was critical as the winger pressed the opponents, crafted his moves with the ball and penetrated into the 18-yard box to create confusion in the final third, which ultimately led to the opponents committing errors. One such error earned Calicut a penalty, which paved the way for their victory.

In the match against Thrissur, though Calicut was on the losing side, the winger put in an immense workload as he was constantly trying to find the equaliser of the match with the crosses and passes from the flanks and came so close to scoring during multiple instances. If Prashant can demonstrate this same intensity, Calicut can emerge victorious in the derby encounter.

Predicted Lineups

Malappuram FC Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)

Azhar (GK); Jithin Prakash, Abdul Hakku, Aitor, Nithin Madhu; Facundo Ballardo, Badr Boulahroud, Gani Abdul Nigam; Abhijith PA, Roy Krishna, Akbar

Calicut FC Predicted Lineup (4-4-2)

Hajmal (GK); Jaganath, Richard Agyemang, Manoj, Asif Khan; Mohammed Riyas, Mohammed Ashraf, Boasso; Sebastain Rincon, Prashant

Where to watch the Malappuram FC vs Calicut FC clash in the Super League Kerala?

The Super League Kerala Season 2 match between Malappuram FC and Calicut FC will be live broadcast on Sony Sports Network and the Sports.com website. The fans can watch the match from 7:30 pm onwards all across India.

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