Kerala Blasters vs Shillong Lajong Prediction: Kerala had good domestic season

Kerala Blasters will go against Shillong Lajong in Game 3 of the Kalinga Indian Super Cup at Kalinga Stadium. Kerala have had a good domestic season so far and they will be hoping to continue the same run in the Super Cup. Who will win? 

The first half of the ISL season has been remarkable for Kerala Blasters, finishing the previous year at the top of the standings. The Tuskers have amassed 26 points from 12 matches, boasting eight victories, scoring 17 goals, and conceding only 10. Notably, consecutive victories against Shield contenders Mumbai City and Mohun Bagan Super Giant before the Asian Cup break have boosted the team's confidence. Despite leading FC Goa by two points, having played two more games, Kerala Blasters are determined to secure a trophy this season, possibly the Super Cup, alongside their pursuit of success in the ISL. Winning the Super Cup would also grant them a coveted spot in the AFC Champions League 2. Placed in Group B with I-League side Shillong Lajong and two ISL teams, Jamshedpur FC and NorthEast United, Ivan Vukomanovic’s team aims to clinch the group and advance to the semi-finals. However, the squad faces challenges due to injuries and national team commitments. Pritam Kotal and Rahul KP are absent, having joined the national team for the Asian Cup, while Vibin Mohanan, Jeakson Singh, and Adrian Luna are also unavailable. As a result, the Tuskers may field only five foreigners, with Daisuke Sakai getting a start.

Sachin Suresh; Prabir Das, Milos Drincic, Marko Leskovic, Hudrom Singh; Daisuke Sakai, Danish Farooq, Mohammed Azhar, Mohammed Aimen; Dimitrios Diamantakos, Kwame Peprah

Kerala Blasters kick off their campaign in the Kalinga Super Cup 2024 against Shillong Lajong, currently occupying the fifth position in the I-League. The Reds displayed a promising return to the league, going unbeaten in the first eight games, including halting leaders Mohammedan SC and securing a victory over two-time winners Gokulam Kerala. Despite encountering setbacks with heavy losses to Aizawl and Real Kashmir, they regained momentum with a convincing 3-0 win over Namdhari FC in the last league game of 2023. As they enter the Super Cup, Lajong aims to draw motivation from their recent victory, despite being placed in a challenging group. Facing the Tuskers in the tournament opener presents a formidable challenge for them. Shillong Lajong's only other appearance in the Super Cup was in the inaugural edition in 2018, where they defeated an ISL side, the now-defunct FC Pune City, in the first round. Realistically, they acknowledge the need for more than a miracle to progress beyond the group stages. The lineup for Shillong Lajong will remain unchanged from their recent 3-0 win over Namdhari FC in the last I-League match of 2023.

Bishaol Lama; Lyngkhoi Lyngdoh, Daniel Goncalves, Kynsailang Khongsit, Ronney Wilson; Kynsaibor Lhuid, Renan Paulino, Hardy Nongbri, Pursunep Jamir; Hadji Samb, Douglas Rosa Tardin

Kerala Blasters are expected to secure a win in their opening group stage match of the Kalinga Super Cup 2024 against Shillong Lajong. Expect over 2.5 goals in the game, with both teams being on the scoresheet in this game.