The two teams are separated by just three points, with the Mariners sitting at the second spot with 29 points and Blasters occupying the fourth place.
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Kerala Blasters FC will take on ATK Mohun Bagan in a marquee clash in the Indian Super League (ISL) fixture at Tilak Maidan on Saturday. With just five rounds of games remaining to go and only six points separating the top six, the race towards play-offs is heading into a nail-biting finish. The two teams are separated by just three points, with the Mariners sitting at the second spot with 29 points and Blasters occupying the fourth place. Both teams desperately need a victory to consolidate their play-off spot. The top-four teams at the end of the league stage will qualify for the play-offs.
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IT’S MATCHDAY! COME ON MARINERS ?♥️#ATKMohunBagan #JoyMohunBagan #AmraSobujMaroon #HeroISL #IndianFootball #KBFCATKMB pic.twitter.com/VXkqms0R7m
— ATK Mohun Bagan FC (@atkmohunbaganfc) February 19, 2022
KBFC head coach Ivan Vukomanovic says it isn’t about playing beautiful football, but winning points that matter at this point of the season. Blasters are coming into the match on the back of a not so convincing 1-0 win against SC East Bengal on Monday and their form has been ‘hot n cold since resuming the campaign after being hit by COVID-19.
Blasters have won two, and lost two in their last four games after going 10 games unbeaten in the campaign. The front four of Blasters- Alvaro Vazquez, Jorge Diaz, Adrian Luna and Sahal Abdul Samad hasn’t been firing on cylinders in the last few games.
They have been linking up pretty well and interchanging positions with ease but are not at their best in the final third. Although Sahal has been getting into good positions, he has been lacking composure and his decision making hasn’t been great in the attacking third.
However, Vukomanovic won’t be too worried about their form as this happens with every good team and one good result will help them lift their confidence and performance level. Meanwhile the injury to central defender Ruivam Hormipam has been a blow to the Yellow army as the 21-year-old was having a breakthrough season.
On the other hand, ATKMB have done exceedingly well under Juan Ferrando, especially with injuries to their foreigh quartet of Carl McHugh, Hugo Boumous, Roy Krishna and David Williams. The likes of Liston Colaco and Manvir Singh have stepped up in their absence.
Manvir scored a double in their 2-0 win against FC Goa in the previous game while Liston is the top Indian goals-corer in the league, having found the back of the net seven times so far. KBFC defence, who have kept most clean sheets (6) in the league so far will be wary of them.
