Bhubaneswar: After a spirited comeback to secure a 2-2 draw against Chennaiyin FC in the final minutes, the Kalinga Warriors now head to Kochi to face Kerala Blasters at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Monday.
The two teams last met in October this season, ending in a dramatic 2-2 stalemate in Bhubaneswar, where the Kalinga Warriors had to comeback from two-goal down. Historically, Kerala Blasters hold a slight edge in this rivalry, with nine wins compared to Odisha’s seven in 23 encounters.
Odisha’s last game showcased the impact of their new signings, Dorielton and Rahul KP. A late equalizer enforced by Rahul KP in stoppage time, following a deflected attempt from Diego Mauricio, earned Odisha a vital point.
However, Odisha will face Kerala Blasters without key players Puitea, and Hugo Boumous, both suspended due to yellow card accumulation. Head Coach Sergio Lobera acknowledged their absence, saying, “Losing Puitea and Hugo is challenging, but we have a strong squad. This is an opportunity for other players to step up and prove their quality.” Meanwhile, in a positive news, Ahmed Jahouh will be available to start after serving his one-match ban.
Kerala Blasters, on the other hand, enter this match with a mixed run of form—dominating Mohammedan SC with a 3-0 win, narrowly losing to Jamshedpur FC, and edging past Punjab FC.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Head Coach Sergio Lobera emphasized the need for balance in attack and defense, saying, “We’re scoring goals but conceding too many. Against a strong opponent like Kerala, we must improve transitions to avoid suffering.”
Defender Amey Ranawade, tasked with containing Kerala’s Noah Sadaoui, expressed confidence in his preparations: “I’ve faced Noah before. I’ve worked hard in training and aim to contribute better to both defense and attack.”
