ISL 2022-23| Kerala Blasters FC vs Mumbai City FC | Preview & prediction

Mumbai City FC will look to continue their unbeaten start to the 2022-23 Indian Super League (ISL) season as they face last season’s runners-up Kerala Blasters FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. 

It has not been a perfect start for Kerala who are hunting for their first title while Mumbai have made a decent start that has seen them salvage five points in three games. Ukrainian Ivan Kalyuzhnyi has been in red-hot form for Kerala and has amassed three goals so far in the season.

• Kerala currently sits ninth in the table having lost two matches so far in the season
• Mumbai on the flip side have won only one match but are still undefeated and within three points of league leaders and defending champions Hyderabad
• A win for Mumbai will propel them to the top spot in the ISL standings

Kerala Blasters FC vs Mumbai City FC Head to Head 

There is not much that separates the two sides in the overall head-to-head as Mumbai leads the tally by six wins to Kerala’s four. Kerala will have good memories from last season after they did a league double over Mumbai. A win for them on Friday will see them register three wins in a row for the first time against the opposition.

Kerala Blasters FC vs Mumbai City FC Head-to-Head

Kerala Blasters FC vs Mumbai City FC 2022-23 Season so far

The Tuskers have so far conceded eight goals in the ISL season, most by any team in the division. Their last home game against ATK Mohun Bagan was a disaster too early as they lost the match by 5-2 despite taking an early lead in the contest. A hat-trick Aussie Dimitri Petratos did the damage for the home side as they will now look to avoid such calamity.

Islanders Mumbai on the flip side will bank on their solid attack having scored six goals. Mumbai currently have the second-best attack in the division, with only league leaders Hyderabad FC scoring more goals with seven. The entertaining 3-3 draw against champions Hyderabad FC is so far the second-highest-scoring match in the season which was then followed by a solid 2-0 home win and a 1-1 draw against Jamshedpur.

Kerala Blasters FC vs Mumbai City FC Team News

There are no fresh injury concerns in the camps as they both will be expected to field the same Xi that started in the last match. As things stand, the likes of Rostyn Griffith and Lallianzuala Chhangte should be in the starting XI for Mumbai.

On the flip side, Ivan Kaliuzhnyi’s superb vein form should see him spearhead the attack having scored three goals in the season so far. Sahal Abdul Samad and Adrian Luna should provide the midfield fulcrum as they bring their experience to the field.

Kerala Blasters Predicted XI: Prabhsukhan Gill (GK); Harmanjot Khabra, Marko Leskovic, Hormipam Ruivah, Jessel Carneiro; Puitea, Jeakson Singh; Sahal Abdul Samad, Adrian Luna; Dimitrios Diamantakos, Ivan Kaliuzhnyi

Mumbai City FC Predicted XI:  Phurba Lachenpa (GK); Rahul Bheke, Rostyn Griffiths, Mehtab Singh, Sanjeev Stalin; Ahmed Jahouh, Apuia Ralte, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Alberto Noguera, Bipin Singh; Greg Stewart

Kerala Blasters FC vs Mumbai City FC Date, kick-off time, and venue

The Indian Super League (ISL) Matchday 4 encounter on Friday, October 28 and will kick-off at 7:30 PM IST

Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi

Prediction

Kerala Blasters FC 2-2 Mumbai City FC