Odisha FC wants to maintain their winning streak against Kerala Blasters desperate to get their maiden win of the new season. However, the Yellow Army have failed to beat the Juggernauts in the last two years.
KBFC vs OFC Match Details :
When: Sunday, December 5
Time: 19:30
Where: Tilak Maidan
KBFC vs OFC Match Preview :
The Yellow Army had to settle for a draw once again with victory still eluding them and were only saved by Ashique Kuruniyan's own goal minutes before Bengaluru FC took the lead through the left-back himself in that 1-1 draw. Kerala defended for large parts of the game but BFC also failed to do more with the amount of possession offered to them. It seems KBFC are stressing more on the solidity of the defense after their opening day destruction by ATK Mohun Bagan which has led to less sharpening on the attacking front. Adrian Luna has been a standout player for them though the new signings were always looking to create something. Manager Ivan Vukomanovic will be wishing that his teammate now follows the same path to break their stale record against an elegant Odisha side this season.
By contrast, Odisha are one win away to taste the top of the ISL table after back-to-back victories in a stunning turnaround from the disappointment of last season. Last game was a cracker for them, winning a thrilling 6-4 against SC East Bengal but leaves a lot of questions for their defense to mandate for the next one. Center back Hector Rodas scored two goals from two set plays and will be wishing to keep the defense tight otherwise their attack looks clinical. Ariday Cabrera has shown his quality arriving from Las Palmas in the Spanish second division already and bragged a brace on Tuesday. But the headline once again belonged to the man evolving in lethal creative midfielder books of ISL, Javi Hernandez. He delivered two assists and scored a Olympic to be the player for Odisha again. Coach Kiko Ramirez needs more of the same with more discipline this time out.
KBFC vs OFC Team News :
Coach Ivan Vukomanovic said that he won't want to rush midfielder Seityasen Singh to the side after the 29-year old suffered an injury in one of the previous training sessions in order to avoid the risk of aggravating the problem and losing him for the rest of the season. Rahul KP is still out with his groin injury from the first game of the season. The Serbian has also said that Chencho Gyeltshen cannot get into the starting eleven simply because of the foreign player restriction and an abundance of quality players to choose from.
Odisha FC's head coach Kiko Ramirez have a full squad ready for the game and barring any last moment injury concerns there won't be any change to the starting eleven.
KBFC vs OFC Expected Lineups :
Kerala Blasters: Albino Gomes; Harmanjot Khabra, Marko Leskovic, Enes Sipovic, Jessel Carneiro; Vincy Barretto, Jeakson Singh, Ayush Adhikari, Sahal Abdul Samad; Adrian Luna, Alvaro Vazquez.
Odisha FC: Kamaljit Singh; Hendry Antonay, Victor Mongil, Hector Rodas, Lalruatthara; Vinit Rai, Thoiba Singh; Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Javier Hernandez, Issac Vanmalsawma, Ariday Cabrera
KBFC vs OFC Head to Head :
The Juggernauts have been a brick wall for Kerala Blasters to breach to win games lately. The Tuskers haven't registered three points against OFC since the franchise changed hands with three draws and a loss. The first interaction last campaign ended 4-2 in Odisha's favor before they played another high-scoring 2-2 draw back in February.
KBFC vs OFC Dream11 Team Prediction :
GK: K. Singh (OFC)
DEF: Khabra (KBFC), Rodas (OFC), Sipovic (KBFC), Carneiro (KBFC)
MID: Vanmalsawma (OFC), Jeakson (KBFC), Vinit Rai (OFC), Javi Hernandez (OFC)
FW: Ariday Cabrera (OFC), Luna (KBFC)
Match Prediction: KBFC 1-3 OFC
These two have produced plenty of goals in most of their meetings but this time the pendulum is due to swing towards Odisha again.
