Jamshedpur, December 12: Jamshepdur FC will host Punjab FC at the JRD Tata Sports Complex on December 13, Friday, at 7:30 pm IST, in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25. The game puts Punjab FC’s tactical discipline against Jamshedpur FC’s positive recent record at home, presenting an intriguing and strategic contest.

Jamshedpur FC have collected 12 out of their 15 points so far from their home matches this season, but beyond the numbers, it’s been their assertiveness on ball and ability to dictate proceedings – reflecting in the 91 goal-scoring chances they have created and 14 strikes thus far, that has helped them stand out despite a spate of disappointing results, including a three-match losing streak recently.

Similarly, Punjab FC’s well-structured backline, the finer statistics of which are enumerated upon in the following aspects of the preview, mean that they have conceded the second-least goals (9) in the league this season. One of Jamshedpur FC’s key strengths has been that they have not been over-reliant on any player to find the back of the net, with the likes of Jordan Murray and Javi Hernandez top-scoring for them with three strikes each, followed by Rei Tachikawa and Javi Siverio with a couple of goals each to their name. In fact, they didn’t even start with Murray in their previous win against Mohammedan SC, with the attacker coming off the bench.

This shows that despite Punjab FC’s impressive discipline at the back, they will have to stop multiple channels in the well-rounded, versatile Jamshedpur FC frontline to maintain their defensive track record in the coming encounter. Right now, both these teams have played nine games in the league, with Punjab FC being third in the table with 18 points and Jamshedpur FC occupying the eighth place thanks to their five wins totalling up to 15 points.  

Jamshedpur FC’s home dominance and defensive dilemma

·       Home Record: Jamshedpur FC’s four home wins this season is one more than the three combined such wins they managed across the last two seasons (2 in 2023-24 and 1 in 2022-23) and one short of their single season record for home wins in the ISL (5 in 2018-19). The Red Miners might have had some concerns on the road but maximising their chances in familiar backyard should hold them in positive stead for the campaign ahead.

·       Defensive Dilemma: Overall, Jamshedpur FC have conceded 20 goals this season, but an astonishing eight of them have come from outside the box – the highest such tally for any team this season, and the most by the Red Miners in a single ISL campaign already overtaking their previous high of seven such goals conceded in 2022-23. Punjab FC have a dynamic frontline who will be raring to pounce upon such an opportunity in the forthcoming fixture.

Punjab FC’s overwhelming strength at the back

·       Clean Sheets: Punjab FC have won both their previous matches by keeping a clean sheet, with this being the first time that they have not conceded a goal in successive ISL games. Overall, the team has conceded only nine goals in as many matches – couple this with their proficiency upfront, resulting in 16 strikes in their favour, and they seem to have struck the right rhythm in both departments to acquire the desired outcomes.

·       Resolute Fortitude: Punjab FC have faced the fewest shots on target (30) by any team in ISL 2024-25. They have even permitted only 16 touches in their box in every match, with only Mumbai City FC allowing fewer such touches per game this season (15.2). Gradually, the team has embraced a perseverance that has been difficult to breach in the back. Can Jamshedpur FC find a way past the same tomorrow?

Head-to-Head

This is the first fixture between the two teams in the current ISL season. In their two matches in the last campaign, which was Punjab FC’s first in the league, Jamshedpur FC won once whereas the other game resulted in a draw.

Coaches Corner

“Our situation is not up to the mark”

Jamshedpur FC head coach Khalid Jamil is eager to resurrect his team’s form and believes that they will have to iron out issues that emerged during the three games they lost in a row before the win against Mohammedan SC.

“Our situation right now is not up to the mark. The last game was okay, but the results we got in the three matches before that weren’t nice. We want to make a comeback and we will be thinking of correcting our mistakes,” Jamil said.

“We want to play in a way that works for us”

In the pre-match press conference, Punjab FC head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis said that his team looks to maximise their strengths through their playing style in every match.

 “There is no certain strategy. We have a philosophy that we want to play in a way that works for us. That’s the most important part and we want to be able to do so from the very first minute itself,” Dilmperis said.

Key Players & Milestones

·       Punjab FC’s Luka Majcen has been in lethal form upfront this season, scoring five goals in 406 minutes at an average of 81.2 minutes per goal – being the best of any player in 2024-25. He has netted in each of his last two matches and will be eager to replicate those heroics to help his team secure another victory under their belt. Majcen will bank on the creative acumen of his teammates to supply him with goal-scoring chances consistently.

·       Jamshedpur FC’s Stephen Eze found the back of the net in their last match, and he averages 6.9 clearances per game in ISL 2024-25, the highest such aggregate of any player. Overall, Eze has won seven tackles, made 14 blocks, completed 33 recoveries and made 20 passes per game at 74% accuracy.

·       Punjab FC’s Nikhil Prabhu has been instrumental in helping his team break opposition’s offences with his timely interceptions. He has intercepted the ball 26 times in nine matches this season, with his average of 2.9 being the highest for any player who has played multiple games in ISL 2024-25. He has made an interception in every match and rounded off at least three of them in his previous two ISL games. Jamshedpur FC will have to cleverly find a way past him to get to the final third.

ISL Fantasy

Javi Hernandez (9.4cr)

The Jamshedpur FC attacking midfielder has earned the most ISL fantasy points (43) for them this season

Nikhil Prabhu (5.2cr)

The Punjab FC star has bagged the highest fantasy points (50) for their team in ISL 2024-25

Indian Super League is being streamed live free on JioCinema (English, Hindi, Bengali and Malayalam) and telecast live on Sports 18 — 3 (English, Hindi, Bengali and Malayalam), Asianet Plus (Malayalam). Additionally Sports 18 — 1, Sports 18 — 2; with Sports 18 — Khel and Star Sports 3 also telecasting select ISL matches LIVE.