East Bengal FC aim to register maiden win over Kerala Blasters FC

While the Red & Gold brigade are current placed ninth in the points table with 12 points from 15 games (4 wins and 11 defeats), the Blasters occupy the third spot with 28 points from 15 games (9 wins, 1 draw and 5 defeats).

Despite dominating the second half and scoring 2 goals in their previous encounter against FC Goa at Fatorda’s PJN Stadium, EBFC ended up losing the game 2-4. Stephen Constantine and Co. are currently in search of their second home win this season.

KBFC, meanwhile, recovered from back-to-back losses with a 2-0 win over NorthEast United FC last week. Both EBFC and KBFC’s top scorers – Cleiton Silva and Dimitrios Diamantakos respectively – are one goal behind the league’s top scorer Iker Guarrotxena (10 goals). While KBFC will miss the services of their injured defender Marko Leskovic, EBFC will finally be able to field their latest overseas recruit, forward Jake Jervis, in Friday’s contest after the transfer embargo was lifted last week.

As far as the head-to-head record between the he two sides are concerned, EBFC have drawn 3 games against their Kerala counterparts so far, and lost twice. The last time the two sides met, in the Hero ISL season opener, EBFC lost 1-3 at Kochi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Addressing the media on the eve of the game, EBFC Head Coach Stephen Constantine said, “Kerala Blasters are a very good team. They deserve to be in the position they are in. It will be a tough game. All matches in the Hero ISL are tough. We’ll play at home and try to bag a positive result.”

VP Suhair, who accompanied Constantine for the press meet, said, “Goal contributions boost everybody’s confidence. I’ll carry the confidence into the upcoming games. We still have five games left. We’ll try to secure as many points as possible. We’ll play the remaining games with the same level of dedication, and try to put up a good showing in the Hero Super Cup.”