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Two-time finalists Kerala Blasters will take on Mumbai City FC in their third consecutive home fixture this season. This will be an important fixture for the Blasters as they are still waiting for their first victory at home. However, they are also one of the two teams to have not conceded a single goal in ISL 2017.
On the other side, the Mumbaikars are struggling away from home having lost both of their away fixtures and have conceded two goals in each away fixture. They will look to bounce back and register their first away win against the Kerala Blasters.
With Kerala and Mumbai are looking for their first home and away victory tonight, we are expecting a cracker of a game in Kochi.
Let’s see what both sides have to offer in their second game of the ISL 2017.
Kerala Blasters FC
Kerala boss Rene Meulensteen has all the reasons to be proud of his side's defensive performance so far in this season as they are yet to concede a single goal. With the presence of players like Hume, Berbatov, Vineeth etc, Kerala are considered as one of the best-attacking units of ISL 2017.
However, he will surely be concerned about their goalless run so far this season. He will look to field his side in 4-1-4-1 formation to keep a balance in attack and defence. We are expecting Milan Singh to replace Arata Izumi to improve the attacking threat.
Kerala Blasters FC Probable Starting XI (4-1-4-1): Paul, Anto, Lakic-Pesic, Jhingan, Lalruatthara, Pekuson, Milan, Vineeth, Jackichand, Berbatov, Hume.
Kerala Blasters FC Probable Starting XI
Mumbai City FC
The Mumbai gaffer Alexandre Guimaraes seems more concerned about his side’s failure to keep a clean sheet in any of their three games this season and surely needs to work on this. The Islanders have struggled away from home this season and have seemed to be improving with time.
With injuries to key players like Costa, Khongjee etc, Mumbai are not expected to make any changes in the starting XI from the previous game and will look to play in a 3-2-4-1 formation in order to continue playing the high pressing game.
Mumbai City FC Probable Starting XI (3-2-4-1): Amrinder, Raju, Goian, Rozario, Vieira, Sehnaz, Emana, E. Santos, Sanju, Ruidas, Balwant.
Prediction:
Kerala Blasters 2-1 Mumbai City FC
We are expecting the first home victory for the Yellow Brigade tonight at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi. However, Mumbai will have to do a lot of efforts to break the strong back-line of Kerala Blasters.
