Kochi, Oct 24 Kerala Blasters FC will host Mumbai City FC here on Sunday, in their first home match of the Indian Super League 2026-27 season.
The Blasters will look to respond after their 4-1 defeat to NorthEast United FC, while the Islanders will be seeking their first win after collecting just one point from two matches.
Kerala head coach Ashley Westwood acknowledged the defensive errors that contributed to the defeat but stressed that his team was still finding its feet. Having had limited time together during pre-season, the Blasters are continuing to build combinations and establish a consistent starting eleven.
Westwood, however, expects his side to maintain an aggressive approach.
“We try and play intense, aggressive football. We try and get numbers forward. We try and win every game,” he said.
Mumbai City, meanwhile, will look to turn their performances into three points. Both of their goals so far have come from penalties, and head coach Manolo Márquez acknowledged that creating chances in open play remains an area for improvement.
“Obviously, we would like to create more chances. I think that we have more problems getting to goal in open play,” Márquez said.
Forward Farukh Choudhary echoed that assessment, stressing the need for greater precision in the final third.
“The chances we create in the game, I think, as attackers, not only me, whoever is playing, I think we need to be more clinical,” he said.
The Islanders will be without Vikram Partap Singh for an extended spell, while Wilmar Jordan Gil is expected to miss several matches due to a hamstring injury.
With Kerala seeking a response and Mumbai chasing their first victory, both sides have plenty to prove when they meet on Sunday.
(PTI News)
