Odisha FC vs. Kerala Blasters Prediction: Odisha lost finals of Super Cup

Odisha FC will go against Kerala Blasters in Gameweek 13 of the Indian Super League at Kalinga Stadium. Odisha lost in the finals of the Super Cup and will be looking to reignite ISL charge. Who will win? 

There are reasons for optimism and concern for Odisha as they prepare for their upcoming matches. Despite being only two points behind Kerala Blasters and boasting a much better recent form, there are potential challenges ahead. The team's forwards have been performing admirably under Sergio Lobera's guidance. However, fatigue could significantly impact Odisha's performance, especially considering their recent efforts in the Kalinga Cup final against East Bengal, where they put up a valiant fight despite playing with 10 men for a substantial part of the match. With minimal rest between matches, tiredness looms as a major concern for Odisha.

Sergio Lobera's squad does not have many injury worries ahead of the game. Diego Mauricio, previously the top scorer for Odisha, has seen a dip in his goal-scoring form, managing only four goals compared to Roy Krishna's seven. Despite this, Mauricio played a pivotal role in the Kalinga Cup final against East Bengal, contributing with a goal and winning a penalty. If Roy Krishna shifts to the wings, his effectiveness may diminish, placing added responsibility on the Brazilian forward.

Amrinder Singh, Amey Ranawade, Narender Gahlot, Carlos Delgado, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Puitea, Ahmed Jahouh, Lenny Rodrigues, Isak Ralte, Roy Krishna, Diego Mauricio.

There are positive and negative factors to consider for Kerala Blasters as they approach their upcoming match. On the bright side, the team has had ample time to prepare, and their recent record against Odisha is favorable, with four wins in their last six encounters. However, there are reasons for concern as well. Kerala Blasters have struggled significantly when playing away from home, and their defense has been vulnerable, conceding seven goals in their last two matches.

Kerala Blasters are aiming to rebound from a disappointing performance in the Kalinga Cup. Despite starting the group stage with a convincing victory over Shillong Lajong, the team faced setbacks against Jamshedpur and NorthEast United, which likely impacted their confidence. With teams like Goa and Odisha closely trailing them in the ISL standings, Kerala Blasters are under pressure to secure a victory and reignite their campaign.

Injuries pose a challenge for coach Ivan Vukomanovic, with several key players unavailable due to injuries, including Adrián Luna, Kwame Peprah, Jaushua Sotirio, Freddy Lallawmawma, and Aibanbha Dohling. Dimitrios Diamantakos stands out as the top scorer in the Kerala Blasters squad with seven goals to his name. However, with Adrian Luna sidelined, there will be added pressure on Diamantakos to lead the team's goal-scoring efforts.

Sachin Suresh, Pritam Kotal, Marko Leskovic, Milos Drincic, Naocha Singh, Danish Farooq, Mohammed Azhar, Mohammed Aimen, Rahul KP, Daisuke Sakai, Dimitrios Diamantakos.

While Kerala Blasters may hold the top spot in the table at the start of the match, their performance on away grounds has been underwhelming. With only three wins from five away games, they face a challenging Odisha side that remains undefeated at home. Odisha came close to clinching the Kalinga Cup and securing a spot in the AFC Champions League 2 for the next season. Despite the setback, they possess the ability to bounce back, especially when playing on their home turf.