ISL reaches the crescendo with its 200th match coming into the fore. What better than Kerala Blasters and Bengaluru FC’s southern rivalry?
With Bengaluru flying high with their performance and Kerala Blasters looking for some resistance with a win, the game is going to be a brilliant tussle.
Southern Rivalry Returns in Kerala Blasters vs Bengaluru FC’s 200th ISL Game
The 200th game of the Indian Super League will be graced by the Southern Derby. Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters FC will go on one in the all-important match.
With Kerala fighting some poor form, Bengaluru on the back of their star performer Sunil Chhetri, will hope for a win. Kerala Blasters and Bengaluru FC’s southern rivalry will be one to drool upon for fans.
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Key Players to Watch
Key Players from Kerala Blasters
Kerala Blasters might be running with some poor form but counting them out could be a massive mistake. They have some of the greatest players who could make a sudden comeback.
Players to watch out for the Kerala Blasters FC include Noah Sadaoui and Milos Drncic. Noah has been a high-flying striker with seven touches in every game. He can create havoc towards the defense of Bengaluru.
With Noah attacking the defense of Milos, Drncic will also be critical. Kerala Blasters defenders have won all of the 12 tackle attempts and fall in the top tier of defenders.
Key Players from Bengaluru FC
On the other hand, Bengaluru FC will be keen to make a winning impact in front of their home crowd. The 40-year-old youngster Sunil Chhetri will be the key player for them.
Sunil Chhetri knows how to be at the right place to score goals and so he will be the key. Another player is Ryan Williams who is a center forward. With a brilliant right footer, he too could make an impact.
How Both Teams Plan to Approach the Game?
The plans from both sides in Kerala Blasters and Bengaluru FC’s southern rivalry will be different from each other. Bengaluru is flying high with their 2nd placed play in the whole tournament.
On the other hand, Kerala Blasters FC are sitting in 10th place with only 3 wins. Bengaluru will be in an attacking mindset and win the home game to solidify their place in the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Blasters will be focused on winning the game or even getting a draw. Kerala Blasters have been poor on the road with losses back to back. The mindset of both teams might be different.
Importance of This Match
When the first game between Kerala Blasters and Bengaluru FC took place in ISL, nobody thought this rivalry would be so big.
Interestingly, Bengaluru FC has never failed to score against Kerala Blasters. So, the task for the team from Kochi is tough. Blasters come to this rivalry with a loss in their back, so it will be important to see how things pan out.
The Impact of the Rivalry on Both Teams
The historical Kerala Blasters and Bengaluru FC’s southern rivalry has taken center stage to be one of the biggest matches in ISL history. Players along with the fans look forward to this game.
More than that, Sunil Chettri has stated that fans mark the dates on their calendars just to watch the game. Fair to say, this rivalry has aged with time.
But on the footballing field, things are way too different. Bengaluru FC is head over heels in the history of the rivalry.
Out of the 16 games played they have won 10 games, while Kerala have won only 4 games and drawn 2. Bengaluru are even more unstoppable at home. They have only conceded 2 goals and scored 8. A tough game awaits the Kochi side.
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