Match: Kerala Blasters v Delhi Dynamos
Date: 9 October, Sunday
Time: 9:30pm SGT/7pm IST/2:30pm BST
Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi
Competition: Indian Super League 2016
TV Coverage: There is no TV coverage of the 2016 ISL clash between Kerala Blasters and Delhi Dynamos in Singapore.
Live Streaming: Hotstar
Overview
Kerala Blasters will host Delhi Dynamos in their 2016 Indian Super League clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on 9 October.
Steve Coppell's side have endured a poor start to their campaign after coming up with a drab show in their opening encounter against NorthEast United, which they lost 1-0. However, the Englishman would have hoped for a change in fortunes when they played their first home game of the season against Atletico de Kolkata on 5 October.
An inspiring crowd support and a freshly laid turf in Kochi were also not able to make any difference to their showing as Atletico added more misery to the home side by clinching a 1-0 win.
The Blasters had a poor season in 2015 in which they finished at the bottom of the points table. The ongoing season has not started any better as their side have been struggling to find the back of the net. The Sachin Tendulkar co-owned franchise is the only side in the league to have not opened their scoring.
On Sunday, Coppell's problems would be compounded as they will miss their marquee player Aaron Hughes, who has been recalled for Northern Ireland's 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifier matches. Their backline will now have to rely on Cedric Hengert and Sandesh Jhingan to stop the impressive Delhi lineup from creating trouble.
After two goalless outings, the burden of getting the account opened in front of their home crowd will fall on Michael Chopra and Antonio German. Indian veteran Sandip Nandy might get a chance at goal if Coppell wishes to add more firepower to the frontline at the cost of regular stopper Graham Stack.
Mehtab Hossain will be raring to come up with a good show from the midfield while a lot will depend on their wingers Mohammad Rafique and Farrukh Choudhury. The absence of Rino Anto and CK Vineeth, who are with Bengaluru FC for the 2016 AFC Cup semi-final duties, has been hurting the inaugural edition runners-up.
Meanwhile, the Dynamos impressed in their very first outing of the season clinching a 3-1 win against the defending champions Chennaiyin FC away from home. It will be another test for newly-appointed manager Gianluca Zambrotta at a South Indian state on Sunday.
The World Cup-winning former Italian international would have been pleased to see the intent his frontline, consisting Marcelinho, Kean Lewis and Richard Gadze, displayed at the Marina Arena. Florent Malouda would want to start and impress his new manager on Sunday. The injury to defender Anas Edathodika is likely to force a change in the lineup, which otherwise looks settled.
It is not too late for the Blasters to begin collecting points in the ongoing season. However, coming up against a side that will press from the word go, the hosts need a spectacular effort if they are to save their blushes in front of the passionate supporters.
TV Schedule
Bhutan: Star Sports 3 Asia
Bangladesh: Star Sports 3 Asia
China: LeTV
Nepal: Star Sports 3 Asia
India: Star Sports 3
UAE: Abu Dhabi Sports 4
Team News
Kerala Blasters
Possible XI: Graham Stack; Pratik Chaudhari, Cedric Hengbart, Sandesh Jhingan Josue Currais, Farrukh Choudhury, Mehtab Hussain, Azrack Mahamat, Mohammed Rafi; Michael Chopra, Antonio German,
Delhi Dynamos
Possible XI: Toni Doblas; Souvik Chakraborty, Ruben Gonzalez, Chinglensana Singh, Lalchhanhima; Bruno Pellisari, Florent Malouda, Milan Singh, Kean Lewis, Marcelinho, Richard Gadze
