Kerala Blasters will look to open their home account when they face Atletico de Kolkata
Atletico de Kolkata players jog during a training session at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Thursday, eve of their Indian Super League match against Kerala Blasters. - SUNOJ NINAN MATHEW
Kochi: A fortnight back, Atletico de Kolkata were rolling along as league leaders and Kerala Blasters were at the bottom of the table. Thanks to the erratic nature of the league, now Kolkata have slipped a position for the first time since Day One and the Blasters have leapfrogged to third.Separated by just four points and with every other team except table-toppers Chennaiyin FC snapping at their heels, the Blasters and Atletico offer a clash of epic proportions when they face off in the first match of Round here on Friday.
The last time these two met that was in the fifth round it ended 1-1 thanks to an Iain Hume equaliser just before half time. But in the four rounds since then Kerala have only scored twice, Kolkata’s goal tally is just one better and both managers would want to avoid another stalemate.The Blasters continue to be the worst scoring team in the league with just six strikes, but the return to fitness of former Newcastle United striker Michael Chopra gives them a shot in the arm.
Other than their poor finishing, the Blasters have transformed into a formidable defensive side with four clean sheets in a row and are unbeaten at home. Kerala will miss the services of midfielder Mehtab Hossain and defender Jamie McAllister. Scot Stephen Pearson should start alongside Frenchman Rapahel Romey.
The Kolkata outfit have travelled with an 18-member unit and injured full-back Denzil Franco is at home. If they win, the Blasters will stay in third place, but it would keep them in semifinal contention whereas a win or a draw will take the visitors back to the top.
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