ISL 2018-19: Bengaluru vs Kerala Blasters- Match preview and prediction
ISL table-toppers Bengaluru FC will be taking on Kerala Blasters tomorrow in their return fixture. While Bengaluru have collected 30 points from 13 matches this season, Kerala are ninth on the league table with a mere 10 points from 14 matches. Will the southerners be able to pull off a miracle tomorrow? Here is our detailed match preview.
How are Bengaluru looking ahead of the encounter?
Bengaluru have won two of their last five matches, and will be raring to get back to their superior form against Blasters tomorrow. They have been in great form this season, with just a single loss and a game in hand. Nishu Kumar will probably not feature in the fixture tomorrow. Notably, Chencho Gyeltshen has been loaned to NEROCA FC.
Are Kerala Blasters ready for the challenge?
Mohamad Rakip, Courage Pekuson and Kizito Keziron will likely be added to the line-up for this fixture. Loken Meitei and Anas Edathodika might not feature in the match tomorrow. Kerala have not one a single match in their last 13 ISL fixtures, and there is no reason to believe they can pull off a win tomorrow against a side as formidable as Bengaluru.
Who will be the key players in the match tomorrow?
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu will be vital for Bengaluru with his superior goal-keeping prowess. They have a lot of talented players in the mix with the likes of Sunil Chhetri, Udanta Singh, and Harmanjot Khabra, each of whom can prove to be vital in the match. Kerala's main hope will be Sandesh Jhingan at the back to stop Bengaluru from scoring goals.
How can the match turn out to be tomorrow?
Bengaluru are the clear favorites in tomorrow's fixture, and hardly anything can stop them from clinching a victory. A win will take them six points clear of second-placed Mumbai City. Kerala need nothing short of a miracle to win this fixture. The balance tilts 3-0 in Bengaluru's favor.
Predicted line-up an starting XI
Bengaluru FC: Sandhu (goal-keeper), Anto, Serran, Juanan, Bheke, Dimas, Paartalu, Singh, Khabra, Gyeltshen, Chhetri. Kerala Blasters: Dheeraj (goal-keeper), Kali, Jhingan, Lakic-Pesic, Rakip, Krcmarevic, Pekuson, Samad, Stojanovic, Doungel, Poplatnik. The match is scheduled to kick-off at 7:30 PM and will be telecast on the Star Sports network, and can also be live-streamed on Hotstar or Jio TV
How should the Dream XI be for this fixture?
Use a 4-3-3 formation and choose Sandhu as the goal-keeper. Serran and Jhingan should ideally be the center-backs while Anto and Rakip take up the left and right back roles respectively. Udanta Singh, Pekuson, and Samad can be the mid-fielders for the match. Chhetri can be the center-forward as Poplatnik and Gyeltshen take up the right and left forward roles.
