Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 21 (ANI): Kerala Blasters FC are set to face off against East Bengal FC in their second Indian Super League (ISL) encounter this Sunday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. The highly anticipated match will kick off at 7:30 PM IST, promising a thrilling evening for football fans.

Kerala Blasters FC, after a narrow loss to Punjab FC in their opening game, are looking for redemption and aiming to secure their first home victory of the season. In their previous match, the Blasters gave a tough fight to Punjab FC, who only managed to clinch the win during added time in the second half. The Yellow Army’s resilience in that game has set high expectations for their performance against East Bengal.

On the other hand, East Bengal FC is also seeking a comeback after suffering a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Bengaluru FC in their season opener. Despite their loss, the Red and Gold Brigade displayed persistent efforts against the Blues, repeatedly challenging their defense. East Bengal hopes that their relentless spirit will translate into a favorable result in this upcoming clash.

A notable statistic for this fixture is that Cuadrat’s teams have consistently found the net against Kerala Blasters FC, scoring in all seven previous ISL encounters and amassing a total of 15 goals. This impressive record makes Kerala Blasters one of their most fruitful opponents in terms of goals scored.

Adding another layer of intrigue, Kerala Blasters’ Pritam Kotal boasts an unbeaten streak against East Bengal FC in the ISL, having won all seven of his matches against them. This streak is notable as it represents his joint second-highest number of wins against any team in the league, sharing the spot with his record against NorthEast United FC (P17 W9 D3 L5).

Ahead of the match, Kerala Blasters FC head coach Mikael Stahre emphasized the need for a more aggressive approach. “We have to attack with more players, have more passers, be more precise and technical, and ultimately more effective. I’m positive, but right now, it’s really painful to handle this defeat. But we will bounce back,” Stahre remarked during the pre-match press conference.

Conversely, East Bengal head coach Carles Cuadrat acknowledged the challenging nature of their upcoming match against Kerala Blasters. “The last game was a difficult one to start the season, but now we move forward. It will be a tough match tomorrow. The pressure will also be on Kerala Blasters FC because of their previous result, so they’ll be competitive. Our aim is to play well, be competitive, and fight back tomorrow,” Cuadrat stated.

For Kerala Blasters FC, all eyes will be on Jesus Jimenez, who made an impactful debut by scoring against Punjab FC. His performance will be crucial in driving the team’s attacking efforts. Meanwhile, East Bengal will rely heavily on Dimitrios Diamantakos for goals. Diamantakos, who won the ISL 2023-24 Golden Boot with 13 strikes during his stint at Kerala Blasters, will be keen to continue his scoring spree.

As both teams prepare for this significant clash, fans can expect a high-energy game filled with strategic plays and determined performances from both sides.