Kerala Blasters FC vs East Bengal FC - ISL 2024-25 Preview.

Kerala Blasters FC vs East Bengal FC - ISL 2024-25 Match Preview.

                        Kerala Blasters FC will take on East Bengal FC in an exciting Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 clash on January 24, Friday, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 pm IST.

Currently, Kerala Blasters FC sit in eighth place with 21 points from 17 matches, while East Bengal FC are in 11th place with 14 points from 16 games, with four wins and two draws.

East Bengal FC are struggling, having lost their last three matches. If they fail to secure a win, they will join NorthEast United FC as the only teams to experience multiple four-game losing streaks in a single ISL season.

On the other hand, Kerala Blasters FC come into this match after ending a four-game away losing streak with a 1-0 win over Punjab FC on January 5. They’ll look to build on this victory and aim for back-to-back away wins for the first time since December 2023.

Kerala Blasters FC's Recent Form Under interim head coach TG Purushothaman, Kerala Blasters FC have shown significant improvement. Their goals conceded per game have dropped from 2.0 under Mikael Stahre to just 0.6, and they've successfully kept their opponents' expected goals (xG) under 1 in all five matches since Purushothaman took charge. They’ve also converted four out of five big chances, boasting an impressive 80% strike rate.

With three wins and one draw in their last five matches, the Blasters will be keen to continue their push for the top six, with a win lifting them closer to sixth-placed Odisha FC.

East Bengal FC's Struggles East Bengal FC have been struggling, particularly in front of goal, failing to score in their last two matches. They will need to rediscover their scoring form to kick-start their campaign. Moreover, they have not managed to score in the first 15 minutes of any match this season, a stat they’ll want to change against Kerala Blasters FC.

Key Points for Kerala Blasters FCWinning the Double: Kerala Blasters FC won the reverse fixture 2-1 back in September, and a victory here would secure their first-ever league double over East Bengal FC in the ISL.

Penalty Area Discipline: Kerala have conceded five goals from penalties this season, the most in the league. Improving their discipline in the defensive third will be crucial to avoid giving away soft goals.

Key Points for East Bengal FCGoalless Streak: East Bengal FC need to find their scoring touch again, as they’ve failed to find the back of the net in their last two matches.

First-Quarter Drought: East Bengal FC have yet to score in the opening 15 minutes of a game this season, and rectifying this could help them take control of the match early on.

Head-to-Head In their previous nine encounters, Kerala Blasters FC have won four, East Bengal FC have won two, and three matches have ended in draws.

Coach’s Corner East Bengal FC head coach Oscar Bruzon remains confident in his team's potential despite their recent struggles. He said, "I believe in the potential and level of our team."

Kerala Blasters FC’s interim head coach TG Purushothaman also assured fans that the team is focused and well-prepared for each match. "We are working collectively and planning for each game. We want to cover all bases properly," he explained.

Key Players & MilestonesNoah Sadaoui (Kerala Blasters FC): With 12 goal contributions (7 goals, 5 assists), Sadaoui has been a key player for Kerala. He’s just two goal contributions away from becoming the third-highest contributor in a single season for the team.

Cleiton Silva (East Bengal FC): Silva, with 48 goal contributions in ISL history, is closing in on a major milestone but is currently without a goal this season, having registered only one assist.

Adrian Luna (Kerala Blasters FC): Luna has been vital in creating opportunities for his team, averaging 17.1 passes in the final third and four assists this season.

ISL Fantasy TipsNoah Sadaoui (₹11.4cr) is the top fantasy point scorer for Kerala Blasters FC this season.

Anwar Ali (₹5.4cr) has been the best fantasy point contributor for East Bengal FC this season.

The match will be streamed live on JioCinema (English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam) and telecast on Sports 18 – 3 (English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam), Asianet Plus (Malayalam). Some matches will also be telecast live on Sports 18 – 1, Sports 18 – 2, Sports 18 – Khel, and Star Sports 3.

Get ready for an action-packed encounter on January 24