Hyderabad FC and Kerala Blasters FC are going to have an intriguing clash today at the Tilak Maidan Stadium in Vasco.
Hyderabad FC has been unbeaten for nine games now, in those nine games they have had six draws. Two of them were from a position of losing and they could have easily converted the other four draws into wins. They are in the fifth position now and winning this game will strengthen their chances of getting into the top four.
Kerala Blasters had a bad season this time, they are in the tenth position with sixteen points, they have won only three games till now and their first win came from defeating Hyderabad FC in the first leg fixtures of this season. Can they repeat this win and finish in the top seven by the end of the season?
3 INDIANS TO LOOK OUT FOR
Chinglensana Singh, Halicharan Narzary and Albino Gomes are the three Indians to look out for.
Chinglensana Singh can be named as the best ball passing Indian centre back in the league right now, he is the most disciplined Indian CB with only one yellow card in fifteen games this season. He will be crucial for Hyderabad in stopping the likes of Garry Hooper and Jordan Murray from scoring goals.
Halicharan Narzary who is the former Kerala Blasters footballer will be a key player for Hyderabad FC today, his pace, skills and crosses have helped Hyderabad a lot and in fact, Hyderabad FC’s second game against Odisha FC this season ended as a draw because Halicharan Narzary went off the pitch due to an injury, if he would have played a couple more minutes he would have scored a brace and help Hyderabad win.
Albino Gomes, the goalkeeper of Kerala Blasters will be the most important Indian player for them, as Hyderabad FC takes a lot of shots, Kerala Blasters will need a good goalkeeper and they have got Albino Gomes, even though he has only three clean sheets this season, his super saves and penalty saves have impressed everyone.
3 FOREIGN PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR
Aridane Santana, Joel Chianese and Gary Hooper are the three foreign players to look out for.
Aridane Santana is the star striker of Hyderabad FC, he has eight goals and one assist to his name in fifteen matches, more than any other Hyderabad FC player, he often goes back to the midfield and lets Joel Chianese or Fran Sandaza go deep and score goals, this way he confuses the opponents, his combination with Joel Chianese and Fran Sandaza has helped Hyderabad FC a lot, and will continue to do so in this game too.
Joel Chianese, the Australian forward often plays as a midfielder for the Nizams but he also drops deep, gives his role to Aridane Santana and scores important goals for Hyderabad FC. He has played only eight games for Hyderabad, has scored three goals and also given an assist. His dribbles, intelligence will be useful for Hyderabad FC in this game.
Gary Hooper needs no introduction for the Kerala Blasters fans, he is one of the most important signings this season, he has three goals and three assists to his name this season, even though the stats are not up to the mark which the fans expected, his playing experience, decisive passes have helped Kerala Blasters FC a lot.
INJURIES
Hyderabad FC has no injured players but they have one player suspended for the game, Mohammad Yasir got a red card in the last game so he is suspended.
Kerala Blasters has Nishu Kumar and Rahul KP injured, Facundo Pereyra has been training on his own and won’t be available for this game.
HEAD TO HEAD
Hyderabad FC and Kerala Blasters FC have faced each other two times last season, where Hyderabad won the first game, then the second time they faced each other Kerala Blasters FC won by scoring five goals.
Kerala Blasters FC also won in the first leg of fixtures against Hyderabad FC this season.
PROBABLE XI
HYDERABAD FC (4-3-2-1)-
Laxmikant Kattimani (GK), Akash Mishra (LB), Chinglensana Singh (LCB), Odei Onaindia (RCB), Ashish Rai (RB), Joao Victor (LDM), Hitesh Sharma (RDM), Halicharan Narzary (LW), Joel Chianese (CAM), Liston Colaco (RW), Aridane Santana (ST).
Kerala Blasters FC (4-4-1-1)-
Kerala Blasters FC:- Albino Gomes (GK), Jessel Carneiro (LB), Costa Nhameinosu (CB), Jeakson Singh(CB), Sandeep Singh (RB), Sahal Abdul Samad (LM), Juande Pardos (CM), Vicente Gomez (CM), Prasanth Karuthadathkuni (RM), Gary Hooper (CAM), Jordan Murray (ST).
PREDICTIONS
Hyderabad FC is a contender for the playoffs this season, they will be fighting hard to get the three points and even Kerala Blasters FC will be trying to get the three points to finish in the top seven by the end of the league. As the squad strength favours Hyderabad FC, we are predicting a win for Hyderabad FC.
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