Rahul Giri From Bhubaneswar
The stage is set at the iconic Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar as two of Indian football’s most passionate teams — East Bengal and Kerala Blasters — lock horns in the pre-quarterfinal of the Super Cup. With both sides desperate to redeem themselves after disappointing ISL campaigns, the clash promises to be a gripping encounter.
East Bengal: Defending Champions with a Point to Prove
East Bengal, who lifted the Super Cup last season, are coming into this fixture with their backs against the wall. A 9th-place finish in the ISL and a quarterfinal exit from the AFC Challenge League at the hands of Arkadag have left fans disappointed. But the Red & Gold brigade will look to bounce back and mount a serious title defence.
The team has come to Bhubaneswar without Brazilian striker Cleiton Silva, who parted ways with the club just days before the match. That leaves East Bengal with only five foreign players, and there are still doubts over the fitness of Spanish midfielder Saul Crespo, who recently recovered from a calf injury. Coach Oscar Bruzon will take a final call on Crespo’s inclusion just before kickoff.
Kerala Blasters: Aiming for Their First National Title
For Kerala Blasters, the story has been much the same. They ended their ISL journey just one place above East Bengal and made headlines mid-season after sacking their head coach. However, under the tutelage of their newly appointed Spanish Head Coach David Catala, the squad has regrouped and arrived in Bhubaneswar two days ahead of the game to acclimatise to the scorching heat and humidity.
All six of their foreign players are available, although the coaching staff might choose to start with five, potentially benching striker Kwame Peprah for a second-half impact. The team will also miss midfield workhorse R Lalthanmawia due to injury and winger Koro Singh due to personal reasons.
With the possibility of a quarterfinal Kolkata Derby looming — should East Bengal win and face Mohun Bagan next — the stakes are even higher. Kerala Blasters, still in search of a major trophy in their history, will be equally motivated to spoil the party and make a statement of their own.
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EBFC vs KBFC: Battle for Redemption | Super Cup opener at Kalinga Stadium
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Weather Conditions & Format Factors
The late 8 PM kickoff will come as a relief, given Bhubaneswar’s daytime temperatures soaring to 38°C and above. Unlike last year’s group-stage format, this edition goes straight into knockouts, meaning one poor night could end the campaign for either team. Also, with no extra time in this format (except in the final), a tight 90-minute battle followed by a tiebreaker remains a real possibility.
Head To Head
East Bengal FC and Kerala Blasters FC have faced each other 10 times in the ISL so far. Kerala hold a slight edge with 4 wins, while East Bengal have won 3 encounters. The remaining 3 matches ended in draws.
Probable Starting XI:
Kerala Blasters:
Sachin Suresh (GK), Hormipam Ruivah, Drincic, Bikash Yumnam, Naocha Singh, Dušan Lagator, Adrian Luna, Vibin Mohanan, Noah Sadaoui, Danish Farooq, Jesus Jimenez
East Bengal:
Prabhsukhan Gill (GK), Mohammad Rakip, Anwar Ali, Hector Yuste, Lalchungnunga, Mahesh Naorem, Jikson Singh/Souvik Chakraborty, PV Vishnu, Richard Celis, Diamantakos, Messi Bouli
Also Read: East Bengal Determined to Turn the Tide in Kalinga Super Cup