(Football news) Hyderabad FC will play Kerala Blasters FC at the Gachibowli Stadium in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 on April 12, at 7:30 pm IST. Whilst Kerala Blasters FC have already secured a place in the playoffs, Hyderabad FC will be playing the final match of a challenging season. The Thangboi Singto-coached club have secured a solitary win in their 21 matches so far.
With eight points until now, a large part of the second half of their campaign has been rediscovering their new look amidst a flurry of new young domestic players who are flocking their ranks. For Kerala Blasters FC, a solid opening half of the campaign was undone by an equally disappointing following part of the season.
Though they have made it to the playoffs, it is possible that they enter the next round of the competition in the sixth spot if Chennaiyin FC beat FC Goa in the final league fixture of the Marina Machans. For Kerala Blasters FC, this game should be an opportunity to regain some rhythm after their run has been derailed recently in the wake of four defeats and a draw in their previous five matches.
What’s at stake?
Hyderabad FC
Hyderabad FC have conceded three goals or more in each of their last two matches, which includes a 4-0 loss to FC Goa and a 3-0 defeat to Mumbai City FC. If they do so again, it will be their outright longest streak in the competition. They haven’t been able to keep their backline in order this season, having given away a goal in each of their previous 10 home matches.
This is their longest such sequence in the ISL, which was a run of 10 encounters from November 2019-October 2022. Kerala Blasters FC could explore goal-scoring opportunities from set-pieces, as Hyderabad FC have conceded 131 goal-scoring chances against them in this season. Will we see Kerala Blasters FC forwards heading it home from corners tomorrow?
Kerala Blasters FC
Kerala Blasters FC will be aiming for their first-ever league double against Hyderabad FC, having won the reverse fixture by a 1-0 margin in November 2023. However, they have problems to address on both ends of the field. Kerala Blasters FC have given away a goal in each of their last nine games in the ISL. If they do so again, it will be their longest ever such streak in the competition.
Moreover, if they fail to find the back of the net in this match, it will be the first time since February-March 2023 that they will be unable to score in consecutive ISL matches. The team has netted seven times in the first 15 minutes of the second half of their matches in the current campaign. This suggests that they begin strongly after the break, and Hyderabad FC have to be wary of resuming the match neatly.
Key Players to Watch Out
Makan Chothe (Hyderabad FC)
Makhan Chothe operates as an attacking midfielder and he has scored once in this season. Chothe has averaged 16 passes per game at 74% accuracy, creating nine goal-scoring chances and key passes each, completing 20 successful dribbles, winning 47 duels, taking five shots on target, making three interceptions and clearances each, emerging victorious in 10 aerial duels, and also rounding off 39 recoveries. Functioning in pockets of spaces in the final third, he is always in the lookout of decisive passes that can be converted by his fellow forwards.
Daisuke Sakai (Kerala Blasters FC)
Daisuke Sakai has emerged as a key attacker due to the more seasoned forwards in the Kerala Blasters FC unit. Sakai has netted twice and assisted once, having recorded 25 touches in the box of the opposition. He has made 15 key passes and successful dribbles each, having created 16 goal-scoring opportunities, averaging 20 passes per game at 79% accuracy. He has won 50 duels and made the same number of recoveries as well, and hasn’t been booked even once in the current campaign. Sakai makes some flashy runs on the flanks and Kerala Blasters FC will need him to be at the top of his game in their attacking endeavours.
