I-League 2018-19: Gokulam Kerala v East Bengal - Preview, Predicted Line-ups, Live Streaming details as QEB bank on luck for first title

East Bengal have taken the I-League title race to the final match-day but they still need some luck to clinch the title on Saturday.

East Bengal take on Gokulam Kerala in Kozhikode (Calicut) and definitely need to win this game to carry hopes of grabbing their first-ever I-League crown.

However, in the neighboring state, they need Chennai City FC to draw or lose their final match against Minerva Punjab to pip CCFC to league glory.

East Bengal, on 39 points in 19 matches, trail Chennai City by a point ahead of their final match. The odds favor Chennai City but recent form suggests East Bengal have a great chance of going the stretch.

Gokulam Kerala stand in the way of East Bengal and the league victory but the Calicut-based club has avoided relegation and could take it easy in their final game.

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Gokulam Kerala v East Bengal - Match Information

Date: March 9, 2019

Kick-off time: 5 pm IST

Live Streaming: Hotstar and Jio TV

TV Telecast: Star Sports 1, HD 1, Star Sports Bangla 1

Live Commentary: Gokulam Kerala v East Bengal I-League Live Score

Venue: EMS Corporation Stadium, Kozhikode (Calicut)

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Gokulam Kerala v East Bengal - Team News

Gokulam Kerala: The Malabarians have Guilherme Batata suspended for a year for spitting at a referee. They don't have any other suspensions.

East Bengal: Jobby Justin is serving a six-game suspension for spitting at his Aizawl FC opponent Kareem Omolaja. He may have played his last game for the Red and Golds. East Bengal will welcome back Borja Gomez from a yellow-card suspension.

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Gokulam Kerala v East Bengal - Predicted Line-ups

Gokulam Kerala: Arnab Das Sharma (GK), Deepak K, Andre Ettienne, Daniel Addo (captain), Mohamed Irshad, Marcus Joseph, Vorbe Fabien, Arjun Jayaraj, Ejiogu Emmanuel, Lalmuankima H, Abhishek Das

East Bengal: Rakshit Dagar (GK), Johnny Acosta, Kamalpreet Singh, Jamie Colado Santos, Enrique Esqueda, Kassim Aidara, Laldanmawia Ralte, Lalrindika Ralte (Captain), Borja Gomez, Brandon Vanlalremdika, Lalram Chullova

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Gokulam Kerala v East Bengal - Form Guide

Gokulam Kerala: W-L-D-D-L

East Bengal: W-W-D-D-W

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Gokulam Kerala v East Bengal - Head-to-head

Gokulam Kerala: 1

East Bengal: 2

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Gokulam Kerala v East Bengal - Key players

Gokulam Kerala: Marcus Joseph

The Trinidad and Tobago striker has been in great form for Gokulam Kerala despite joining the squad pretty late. The 27-year-old joined Gokulam Kerala only at the start of January but in eight matches, he has scored six goals and lifted Gokulam Kerala from the relegation zone.

East Bengal: Enrique Esqueda

Enrique Esqueda missed some part of the East Bengal season due to an injury. However, he's their joint highest goalscorer (with Jobby Justin) with nine strikes in 13 matches. It was Esqueda who kept East Bengal's I-League chances alive with crucial goals against Real Kashmir and Minerva Punjab in the previous games. He has scored in EB's last 3 games and coach Alejandro Menendez will look to him for that final push to the I-League title.

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Gokulam Kerala v East Bengal - Predictions

Gokulam Kerala's inconsistency itself could give East Bengal the upper hand. The Red and Golds are pretty determined to do whatever is in their control to win the title and they will go all out against GKFC. They are likely to walk away the winners in this game but what happens with the I-League title race will be more interesting.

Predicted Score - Gokulam Kerala 1-2 East Bengal