ISL 10 kicks off with an electrifying clash between rivals Kerala Blasters FC and Bengaluru FC. The highly anticipated opening match of the 2023-24 ISL season promises a thrilling showdown at Kochi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, fueled by passionate fanbases.
What’s at stake?
Bengaluru FC: The Blues bid farewell to some high-profile first-team players like Udanta Singh, Sandesh Jhingan, and Roy Krishna during the summer. Head coach Simon Grayson is banking on the integration of fresh faces into the squad to ensure a strong start in the league.
Kerala Blasters FC: Kerala lost star midfielder Sahal Abdul Samad to the Mohun Bagan Super Giant but bolstered their defense with arrivals such as India internationals Pritam Kotal and Prabir Das. The Manjappada faithful are counting on them to meet expectations in the opening game.
Key Players:
Hormipan Ruivah (Kerala Blasters FC): Ruivah, an industrious 22-year-old center-back, boasted an impressive 86% tackle success rate in the ISL 2022/23. He’ll play a pivotal role in Vukomanovic’s defensive strategy for the match.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Bengaluru FC): Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, with 56 wins for BFC in the ISL, is the club’s second-most successful player, just one behind Chhetri (57). In the captain’s absence, the custodian aims to equal that record in the upcoming faceoff.
Head-to-Head:
- Matches Played: 14
- Bengaluru FC Wins: 8
- Kerala Blasters FC Wins: 3
- Draws: 3
- The Blues have won the last two ISL matches against Kerala with 1-0 scorelines.
Team Talk: Bengaluru’s head coach Grayson discussed the changes in the squad, expressing satisfaction with the new additions and emphasizing the competition for places in the team. He aims to field a competitive lineup against a strong Kerala Blasters side.
Kerala’s latest signing, Pritam Kotal, expressed his excitement about playing in the yellow jersey for the passionate fans and pledged to give his best to secure victory.
Where to Watch: Viacom18 is the new home of Indian football, with the Kerala Blasters FC vs. Bengaluru FC match kicking off at 8:00 PM on September 21, 2023. Fans across the country can catch the action in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam on various linear channels. Additionally, as part of FSDL’s partnership with OneFootball, ISL live streams and highlights will be available to fans in over 190 countries.
